Cricket: Bangladesh bowl first against South Africa

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BLOEMFONTEIN, South Africa, Oct 6, 2017 (BSS/AFP) – Bangladesh won the toss and sent South Africa in to bat in the second and final Test at the Mangaung Oval on Friday.

The tourists made four changes following their 333-run defeat in the first Test in Bloemfontein.

Fit-again Soumya Sarkar replaced the injured Tamim Iqbal at the top of the batting order, while there were three changes among the bowlers.

Left-arm spinner Taijul Islam replaced off-spinner Mehidy Hasan, while fast bowlers Rubel Hossain and Subashis Roy came in for Taskin Ahmed and Shafiul Islam.

South Africa made an enforced change with left-handed all-rounder Wayne Parnell replacing the injured Morne Morkel.

Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim said he expected more life from the pitch in the early stages than there had been in Potchefstroom where South Africa piled up 496 for three declared.

“Hopefully there will be more for our bowlers,” he said.

South African captain Faf du Plessis also said he expected more life from the pitch. “There is a little bit of grass, so the first session will be important. After that it should be a good batting wicket and it could get quite dry by days four and five,” he said.

Teams:

South Africa: Faf du Plessis (captain), Dean Elgar, Aiden Markram, Hashim Amla, Temba Bavuma, Quinton de Kock (wkt), Keshav Maharaj, Andile Phehlukwayo, Wayne Parnell, Kagiso Rabada, Duanne Olivier.

Bangladesh: Mushfiqur Rahim (captain), Soumya Sarkar, Imrul Kayes, Mominul Haque, Mahmudullah, Liton Das (wkt), Sabbir Rahman, Taijul Islam, Rubel Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman, Subashis Roy.

Umpires: Kumar Dharmasena (SRI), Bruce Oxenford (AUS).

TV umpire: Chris Gaffaney (NZL).

Match referee: Ranjan Madugalle (SRI).