SA vs BAN, 2nd Test: Dean Elgar, Temba Bavuma and Keegan Petersen fifties help hosts post 278/5 on Day 1

South Africa vs Bangladesh, 2nd Tetst Day 1: 3 South African batters made half-centuries after the home team chose to bat first at St. George's Park, but none of them went on to a big score and Bangladesh took something from the day by removing Ryan Rickelton (42) and Temba Bavuma (67) in the space of three overs just before the close.

Bangladesh's persistence was rewarded with two late wickets as South Africa went to stumps on 278-5 on the opening day of the second and final Test on Friday.

Three South African batters made half-centuries after the home team chose to bat first at St. George's Park, but none of them went on to a big score and Bangladesh took something from the day by removing Ryan Rickelton (42) and Temba Bavuma (67) in the space of three overs just before the close.

Bavuma was the third South African to pass 50 after captain Dean Elgar provided a solid start with his 70 and No. 3 Keegan Petersen made 64.

But Bangladesh found success through left-arm spinner Taijul Islam, who was called into the team following a 220-run loss in the series-opener. Taijul claimed the crucial wickets of Elgar, Petersen and Rickelton for his 3-77.

South Africa has the advantage as it seeks to seal a series victory, but not by much.

Elgar hit 10 fours in his third half-century in three innings this series and South Africa made an imposing start by putting together four half-century stands for its first four wickets.

Bavuma and Rickelton combined for the last and best of those, a stand of 83 that looked to be taking South Africa to a position of clear dominance. Their late dismissals gave the day a different complexion as South Africa went from 267-3 to its 278-5.