Captain George van Heerden led a sound batting reply as South Africa Emerging Men reached 149-3 at the close on the second day of the first four-day match against Bangladesh Emerging at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram on Wednesday.
The right-hander was unbeaten on 46 off 89 balls and shared in a strong unbroken 82-run fourth-wicket partnership with Richard Seletswane (32* off 107 balls) to help the visitors reduce the deficit to 159 after earlier bowling out the hosts for 308.
Tiaan van Vuuren finished with the best figures having collected three for 47, while there were two wickets each for Dian Forrester (2-31) and Tshepo Ntuli (2-81).
It meant that the South Africans had done exceptionally well by the halfway stage, considering the hosts started day two with a slight edge on 213-4.
Overnight pair Pritom Kumar and captain Shahadat Hossain managed to add just 20 to the total when the former was caught behind off Van Vuuren for 31.
New man Moin Khan managed just six, before he became one of two wickets to fall to the impressive Forrester, the second being that of the skipper for 44.
Another quick double by the touring bowlers then left Bangladesh on 266 for nine, before they were left frustrated by Ripon Mondol’s 26.
The number 11 added 42 with Shafiqul Islam (13*) to lift their side above 300 and to their eventual total of 308.
Muhammad Manack (35) and Ntando Zuma (29) produced a solid opening stand of 67 for the away side, before a forgettable passage of play where they lost three wickets with the score on 67.
First Manack was caught behind off Rakibul Hasan (1-28), with a double strike from Ripon (2-26) following – Zuma and Connor Esterhuizen (0) his victims in three balls from the 21st over.
However, the captain and Seletswane responded beautifully to bat through the next 32 overs without further damage.
SA Emerging Men’s Squad against Bangladesh Emerging
George van Heerden (captain, Six Gun Grill Garden Route Badgers), Connor Esterhuizen (DP World Lions), Muhammad Manack (DP World Lions), Dian Forrester (Knights), Dewan Marais (Eastern Storm), Andile Mogakane (Dafabet Warriors), Nqobani Mokoena (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Tshepo Ndwandwa (Momentum Multiply Titans), Tshepo Ntuli (Northern Cape Heat), Romashan Pillay (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Meeka-eel Prince (Renault North West Dragons), Andile Simelane (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Richard Seletswane (DP World Lions), Tiaan van Vuuren (Knights), and Ntandoyenkosi Zuma (ACDC Express Tuskers).
Four-Day Matches
Tuesday, 20 May – Friday, 23 May at 09:30
Bangladesh Emerging v South Africa Emerging – Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Chattogram
Tuesday, 27 May – Friday, 30 May at 09:30
Bangladesh Emerging v South Africa Emerging – Sher-E-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Dhaka