Close Bangladesh 153 for 7 (Habibul Bashar 38, Ntini 3-13) trail South Africa 529 for 4 dec (Smith 200, Kirsten 150, Kallis 75*) by 376 runs
Scorecard

As a contest, it wasn't one. But neither was it quite like watching a car crash either. By the close of the second day at East London, Bangladesh were on the ropes – when are they not? – but South Africa had been made to work for their dominance.

Bangladesh reached the close with 153 for 7, still trailing by the little matter of 376 runs after Friday's one-way traffic. South Africa had declared shortly after lunch at 529 for 4, and when Bangladesh lost both their openers with 25 on the board, a swift capitulation seemed likely to follow.

But while Sanwar Hossain and Habibul Bashar were adding 66 for the third wicket, Mark Boucher had something resembling a furrowed brow in the first Test on his home ground at Buffalo Park. Bangladesh had some luck, with several streaky boundaries through the slip cordon and a couple of uncharacteristic drops from Jacques Kallis and Herschelle Gibbs, but Habibul in particular was quick to capitalise on anything that strayed onto the legs.

In the end, it required a superb spell of hostile fast bowling to make the break. Makhaya Ntini had been relegated to first change as South Africa opened their attack with the good-cop/bad-cop routine of David Terbrugge and Nantie Hayward, but when Ntini got his chance he tore into the batting. He banged the ball in from wide of the crease, cramping Sanwar into a defensive edge to the keeper (91 for 3), bowling Tushar Imran off the helmet for a duck (97 for 4), and finally flustering Habibul into nicking a wide one (100 for 5). His figures were 3 for 13 from 10 overs, and they did not flatter him one bit.

Nantie Hayward, by contrast, was a disappointment. He was swift throughout, but erratic as always, and to Bangladesh's credit they took him on, particularly Alok Kapali, who stepped into line and flicked him wristily around the ground. Kapali received little more than moral support, though Khaled Masud was unlucky to be given out caught at third slip, when the ball cannoned straight off his shoulder (130 for 6).

Earlier South Africa added 160 runs to their overnight 369 for 2, as Kallis took the opportunity to massage his batting average and Martin van Jaarsveld was given a couple of low-octane hours to ease himself into Test cricket.

Kallis finished with 75 not out, but Bangladesh's effort in the field was a vast improvement as well, with Talha Jubair deservedly claiming two wickets in three overs, both smart catches in the gully by Kapali. He had bowled with spirit throughout South Africa's first-day onslaught, and even managed to extract a bit of life from the wicket. Kirsten, the first of his victims, was clattered on the helmet shortly before his dismissal, and van Jaarsveld was also reminded that this really is a Test match, with an excellent delivery that struck him on the shoulder.

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