The partnership passed the 200 mark, Smith went to his 150 and the total climbed above the 300.

Smith’s hundred making him the youngest player to score a hundred for South Africa in the post isolation era, beating that set by Mark Boucher. It was still some two years later than the record held by his namesake Graeme Pollock.

With afternoon drinks being taken Smith had gone to 179 and Kirsten 93. South Africa were 326/1

Kirsten went to his 28th half century, the third player to do it against nine Test playing nations, off 58 balls and 84 minutes. His eight boundaries all had signs of an in form batsman.

Smith looked in fine nick as well, showing no signs of the dreaded nervous nineties jitters, he went to his first Test hundred in 206 minutes off 165 balls including 12 boundaries.

With little assistance from the pitch the Bangladesh bowlers battled hard. The spinners also not getting much turn had to concentrate on maintaining a length and a line. Manjural Islam being the pick of the bowlers, found the right area of the pitch to bowl into.

The partnership grew to 157 when the tea break was called with South Africa 244/1 and well on the way to setting a very big total. Smith had gone to 127 and Kirsten to 70.

The hundred coming up in the pre-lunch session from 148 balls was followed in this session with Smith going to his second career 50 in 131 balls including seven boundaries. He also went on to pass his highest Test score of 68.

Kirsten batting at almost a run a ball appeared to have regained his confidence while spending a few weeks playing provincial first class cricket. Playing in the “V” and not away from the body he looked set to become the first player to score a hundred against nine Test playing nations.

At drinks South Africa had moved along to 173/1 with Smith on 79 and Kirsten on 48.

Runs continued to flow with both batsman at ease against the medium paced Bangladesh bowlers. Manjural Islam the only bowler really to come to terms with his length and line.

Eleven fours and one six had been recorded when Gibbs cut at a ball outside the off only to find the bat turning in his hands and hitting a head high catch straight at extra cover for 41. Having looked to be in total control a disappointed Gibbs made way for Kirsten and South Africa 87/1.

Kirsten playing a lot straighter off the front foot than he as done in recent matches had a small scare when cutting at Baisya with an angled bat and nearly dragging the ball one into the stumps.

Smith, scoring most of his runs through the off side, had to be content to go to lunch still seven runs short of his second test 50.

A conservative first five over, nine run, start from the batsmen soon accelerated when first Gibbs flicked to the on side to bring up the first boundary and Smith followed by on driving for four. Gibbs showed what good recent form he has been in, nonchalantly flicking a ball from Tapash Baisya for the maximum over forward square leg.

The South African 50 came up in the 12th over as it became apparent that Bangladesh were in for a hard time fielding in this first innings. Both opening bowlers, not consistent in their length and line, ended the first hour with Manjural Islam giving away 16 runs in his six overs and Tapash Baisya 31 from his six.

At drinks South Africa had moved to 56 without loss with Gibbs on 27 and Smith on 26.

The weather is ideal in East London for Buffalo Park to celebrate its first Test match and becoming the tenth Test venue in South Africa. The match is also the 50th test match to played in South Africa since re-admission in 1991.

Milestones today are the debut for Martin van Jaarsveld for South Africa and Jacques Kallis looking to become the fifth player to score 4,000 runs and take 100 wickets. He is only 29 runs short and will be the second fastest to reach the mark.