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Morkel rocks Bangladesh

Morkel dismissed Iqbal and Ashraful before lunch
Siddique and Hasan put on 51 for the fifth wicket

— PHOTO: AFP

CELEBRATION TIME: South Africa’s Morne Morkel (centre) is congratulated by his teammates after dismissing Bangladesh’s Saquib Al Hasan on Wednesday.

CENTURION (South Africa): South Africa fast bowler Morne Morkel overcame an indifferent start on Wednesday to take two wickets late in each of the first two sessions to leave Bangladesh on 160 for six at tea on the opening day of the second and final Test.

Morkel dismissed opener Tamim Iqbal and captain Mohammad Ashraful before lunch at SuperSport Park before returning to remove Raqibul Hasan and Shakib al Hasan before tea to have figures of four for 56 from 12 overs.

Siddique was batting on 66 and wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim was unbeaten on 0 at the interval.

Ashraful had won the toss and elected to bat, but opening bowlers Makahya Ntini and Dale Steyn dominated early in the session.

Watchful start

Bangladesh reached 25 without loss inside 15 watchful overs before Ntini got Imrul Kayes on 6 to edge a ball to captain Graeme Smith at first slip.

Morkel, who was wayward in the first Test as South Africa won by an innings and 129 runs last week, had gone for 11 in a first over that contained eight deliveries after being hit for two lovely offside drives by Junaid Siddique.

But after Bangladesh had recovered to reach 54 for the loss of no further wickets, Morkel had Iqbal caught by wicketkeeper Mark Boucher on 31 in his third over. Iqbal hit five fours in his 97-minute innings.

In his next over, Morkel caught and bowled Ashraful for 1 with three runs added to the total.

Bangladesh showed resolve after being 64 for three at lunch to increase its run-rate to more than three an over in the second session.

Ntini had Mehrab Hossain Jr. caught on 3 by Jacques Kallis at second slip after prodding forward to a ball angled across the left-hander, and Bangladesh was 71 for four.

Siddique and Hasan put on 51 for the fifth wicket before Hasan edged a ball from Morkel to to Smith at first slip. Al Hasan then dragged a ball from Morkel onto his stumps to end an entertaining innings of 30 in 29 minutes off 27 balls, which had six fours.

Ntini had the miserly figures of two for 12 off 14 overs.

The scores: Bangladesh — 1st innings: T. Iqbal c Boucher b Morkel 31, I. Kayes c Smith b Ntini 6, J. Siddique (batting) 66, M. Ashraful c and b Morkel 1, M. Hossain c Kallis b Ntini 3, R. Hasan c Smith b Morkel 15, S. Al Hasan b Morkel 30, M. Rahim (batting) 0; Extras: (lb-1, nb-7) 8; Total: (for six wkts, 54 overs) 160.

Fall of wickets: 1-25, 2-56, 3-57, 4-71, 5-122, 6-159.

South Africa bowling: Steyn 12-3-44-0, Ntini 14-7-12-2, Kallis 7-2-20-0, Zondeki 9-2-27-0, Morkel 12-0-56-4.

Corrections and Clarifications

A report "Morkel rocks Bangladesh" ("Sport", November 27, 2008) said the second wicket fell at 54. The scoreboard gave it incorrectly as "2-56".

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