Maiden test centuries from Tony de Zorzi and Tristan Stubbs helped the Proteas dominate day one of the second test against Bangladesh, as they ended play on 307/2 in their first innings at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram on Tuesday.
Opener De Zorzi was superb, carrying his bat throughout the day as he struck 10 fours and three sixes on his way to an unbeaten 141 off 211 balls, while Stubbs cracked six fours and three sixes in his 106 off 198 balls.
End of Over 50⚡
— Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) October 29, 2024
Big milestones has been achieved by the Proteas, a 1️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ Run Partnership by Stubbo and De Zorzi 🤝
SA are strong at 176/1🏏🇿🇦⚡#WozaNawe #BePartOfIt #BANvSA pic.twitter.com/gUulWbUtV0
The pair shared in a terrific 201-run second wicket partnership after the dismissal of captain Aiden Markram for 33 during the days first session, which put them well on top by the time Stubbs fell towards the end of the day.
De Zorzi and David Bedingham (18no) will now hope to build on their budding unbeaten 37-run stand on the morning of day two.
The final session of play started with the Proteas well set on 205/1, and Stubbs looked in the mood for runs as he clubbed Mehidy Hasan Miraz over deep midwicket for six in the second over after tea.
A few overs later he went at Miraz again, reverse sweeping him for four and then pulling him for another six over deep midwicket.
De Zorzi was largely a spectator during this time, but after reaching 99 Stubbs faced seven agonising dot balls before knocking the single to get him to his landmark score in the 73rd over.
In the next over Stubbs reverse swept Taijul Islam for four, but then couldn’t get his bat down to a ball that kept low and was bowled, with the score on 270/2.
That brought Bedingham in and along with De Zorzi they batted the Proteas comfortably to the close of play, with bad light having the final say with a few overs left in the day.
Earlier in the day the post lunch session was dominated by De Zorzi and Stubbs as they shared in an unblemished 96-run session.
The Proteas resumed on 109/1, with De Zorzi immediately surviving a Bangladesh review for LBW in the first over after the restart, with the ball clearly pitching outside leg, before he brought up his half century with a single.
Both batters were very watchful and it took until the 13th over of the session for the first boundary with Stubbs driving Hasan Mahmud off the back foot to deep cover for four.
But two balls later should have seen the back of De Zorzi for 67, with him edging Mahmud to slip where he was dropped, which allowed them to kick on and bring up the teams 150 in the next over.
Stubbs reached his half century with a single in the 49th over, and in the next survived a second incorrect review from Bangladesh after they appealed for a caught behind after Stubbs missed a cut off Islam, with ultra edge proving the umpire correct.
1️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐍 𝐒𝐓𝐔𝐁𝐁𝐒
— SuperSport 🏆 (@SuperSportTV) October 29, 2024
It's ANOTHER Test century for South Africa 🤩
📺 Stream #BANvSA on DStv: https://t.co/rM90YyQxaw pic.twitter.com/8Xi87Vi257
With them nearing tea both batters started to open up, as Stubbs came down the wicket and launched Miraz back over his head for six, while De Zorzi hammered Islam over wide long on for a maximum of his own.
In the penultimate over before tea De Zorzi swept Miraz through square leg for four to bring up a superb maiden century, before they reached tea in a great position.
At the start of the day Markram called the toss correctly and chose to bat, with the visitors starting well.
Markram showed some good attacking intent early on with nice boundaries off Mahmud and Nahid Rana, while De Zorzi also got in on the action, slog sweeping Islam over deep square leg for six and cracking a boundary off Mahmud.
A three off the bat of Markram in the 11th over saw them bring up the teams 50, before they moved their opening partnership onto 69 runs.
At the start of the 18th over Markram unfortunately gave his wicket away, coming down the track at Islam, but only managed to pop an easy catch off the bottom of the bat straight to Mominul Haque at mid-on.
That brought Stubbs to the crease and along with De Zorzi they settled in to an unbeaten 40-run stand to take them to lunch without further trouble.
BANGLADESH: Shadman Islam, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Najmul Hossain Shanto (capt), Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Zakir Hasan, Mahidul Islam (wk), Nahid Rana, Taijul Islam, Hasan Mahmud
SOUTH AFRICA: Aiden Markram (capt), Tony de Zorzi, Tristan Stubbs, David Bedingham, Ryan Rickelton, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Wiaan Mulder, Senuran Muthusamy, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Dane Paterson