Tenacious Temba Bavuma shows growth with Potch knock

Some people may have thought he batted a bit slowly, but Temba Bavuma should get 10/10 for the way he batted in the South African middle-order in the second innings of the first Test against Bangladesh in Potchefstroom on Sunday.

The tenacious 27-year-old made a busy 71 off 107 balls as just about everything, barring the weather and a couple of missed chances, went South Africa’s way with Bangladesh going into the final day on 49 for three, a long way from their target of 424.

Also read: Why it’s wrong to underappreciate Temba Bavuma

Bavuma scored just 17 runs off his first 45 deliveries, but thereafter collected runs at a run-a-ball as he set up South Africa’s declaration with a perfectly timed knock in the company of captain Faf du Plessis, the pair sharing a fourth-wicket stand of 142 off 166 balls, a record for the Proteas against Bangladesh.

It was a sign that he can perform the role of batting the situation now that he has been promoted to number four in the order.

“The goal this morning was just to bat and try and set up the game, bat until lunch and then take it from there. Bangladesh bowled well and made it difficult to score fluently, but I try to play the situation as well as I can. When I came in we had just lost two quick wickets and I just wanted to get us to the end of the third day,” Bavuma said after stumps on Sunday.

“We knew the runs would come after lunch, that would be our fun period, but we had to lay the foundation first. It meant we could then take calculated risks, and Faf came in and brought a lot of intensity and energy which I was able to feed off.”

When South Africa began their efforts to capture 10 Bangladesh wickets in the early afternoon, Morne Morkel then knocked over two wickets in the first over and it seemed Christmas had arrived early.

But the Proteas then suffered three setbacks, with Morkel bowling Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim with a no-ball, Imrul Kayes being dropped in the slips off Kagiso Rabada, and Morkel then leaving the field with a side strain that will probably rule him out of the rest of the Test.

“Our basic disciplines are something we try and work very hard on, so it’s frustrating when quality players get let-offs. In England we didn’t do the basics well either, so it’s something that has been stressed and we will keep emphasising it, we are aware of it.

“Morne was running hot, but with him probably gone we have lots of other guys who can put their hands up. I’ll even bring my bowling spikes. We understand the conditions here, we know what to do in Potch because we have a few guys who have played here a lot for the Highveld Lions. The extra pace we have makes the difference and the first hour and first session on the last day will be telling,” Bavuma said.