South Africa solid at 126-0 in 2nd test against Bangladesh

BLOEMFONTEIN, South Africa — Bangladesh's decision to bowl first didn't go to plan again as South Africa reached 126-0 at lunch Friday on the first day of the second test.

The in-form Dean Elgar, who made 199 in South Africa's victory in the first test, was 72 not out off only 88 balls. Aiden Markram was with him on 54 not out, a second straight half-century in his first two tests.

Bangladesh chose to bowl, like it did in the series opener, hoping for far more help from the Bloemfontein pitch. But the touring bowlers got little out of the strip at Mangaung Oval and Bangladesh appeared to have misread the pitch again, as it did last week in Potchefstroom. Then, South Africa racked up 496-3 declared after being put in to bat and went on to a comfortable victory.

South Africa was going at healthy rate of nearly 4½ runs per over in the opening session on Friday, with Elgar hitting 13 fours and racing toward another century. The left-hander has four centuries in 2017 and is the leading scorer in test cricket this year. He and Markram have put on two century-opening stands in their first two tests playing together.

Bangladesh made four changes to its lineup for the second and final match, dropping three bowlers and bringing in Subashis Roy, Rubel Hossain and Taijul Islam. They had no more success, though.

South Africa was without injured strike bowler Morne Morkel. Wayne Parnell replaced him.