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Bangladesh bowlers fight back

Bangladeshi bowler Shakib Al Hasan

South Africa lost four wickets before lunch as Bangladesh's bowlers fought back on the second day of the first Test at Springbok Park Thursday.

Despite the setbacks, South Africa were in a strong position at 404 for five at the break.

South Africa looked set to extend their dominance of the first day when centurions Graeme Smith and Hashim Amla scored briskly against the second new ball.

The pair added 28 in 29 minutes to the overnight total of 299 for one before Amla drove outside an off-cutter from Mashrafe Mortaza and was bowled off an inside edge for 112.

Six balls later Graeme Smith was bowled by a superb delivery from Mahbubul Alam for 157. The ball swung in to the left-handed Smith then moved away off the pitch to hit the top of his off stump.

It was a deserved reward for Alam, who twice induced edges from Smith, first when the South African captain edged a boundary to take his score to 151, then having him dropped without addition to the score by Junaid Siddique at slip.

Smith and Amla put on 225 for the second wicket in 244 minutes off 313 balls.

Jacques Kallis, seeking a return to his best Test form after a poor series in England earlier in the year, hit 16 with all his runs coming from four boundaries.

But then he went down the wicket to left-arm spinner Shakib Al Hasan and lofted a simple catch to Bangladesh captain Mohammad Ashraful.

AB de Villiers also fell cheaply, making three before charging down the pitch to Al Hasan, getting a faint edge to the ball. Wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim whipped off the bails with De Villiers well out of his crease but he was given out caught behind.

South Africa had slumped to 365 for five but Ashwell Prince (37 not out) and Mark Boucher (15 not out) took their team past 400 shortly before lunch.