Sun, Mar 02, 2008 page24

• South African pair break world record

  PACE ACE Bangladesh were staring down the barrel after a hostile spell of quick bowling by Dale Steyn sent three batsmen on their way before the close of play

  • AFP
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  South Africa tightened the noose around Bangladesh after posting a huge first innings score on a record-shattering second day of the second Test yesterday.

  After declaring their first innings on 583-7, the visitors reduced the home team to a shaky 60-3 at close to raise hopes of a complete mauling of their struggling rivals.

  Shahriar Nafees was batting on seven with Abdur Razzaq on eight when stumps were drawn after an exciting day in Chittagong.

  

  Graeme Smith, center, is bowled during the Test match between Bangladesh and South Africa in Chittagong, Bangladesh, yesterday. Smith shared in a world record opening partnership with partner Neil McKenzie.

  PHOTO: AFP

  Dale Steyn polished off the cream of the Bangladeshi batting with figures of 3-24 off eight overs to complement the effort of double centurions Graeme Smith (232) and Neil McKenzie (226).

  The duo had created history in the third over of the day when they broke the world record of 413 runs for the best Test opening stand, which was held by India's Pankaj Roy and Vinoo Mankad against New Zealand in 1956.

  Steyn, who rattled the Bangladeshi openers with some real short-pitched stuff, first claimed Tamim Iqbal when he was caught by AB de Villiers in the slips for 14.

  

  South Africa's Neil McKenzie plays a shot during the second day of the second Test match between Bangladesh and South Africa in Chittagong yesterday.

  PHOTO: AFP

  Junaid Siddique (18) then became Steyn's 100th victim in only his 20th Test when he was caught behind by Mark Boucher who also sent back captain Mohammad Ashraful for a first-ball duck to throw the Bangladeshi innings into turmoil.

  Earlier South Africa declared their innings shortly after tea when left-arm spinner Mohammad Rafique took his second wicket of the match to also complete 100 Test dismissals in his final international appearance.

  Rafique dismissed Boucher (21) when he had him caught in the slips for his 99th scalp and followed it up with the wicket of Robin Peterson.

  Peterson was caught behind by wicketkeeper Rahim who had dropped Jacques Kallis earlier on 38 off Rafique.

  South Africa were cruising at 514-2 when Shahadat Hossain used reverse swing to trigger a collapse which saw the visitors lose five wickets for 69 runs.

  Hossain, who took three wickets in three overs, struck in the second over after lunch, sending back McKenzie but not before the batsman had hit his maiden double Test ton.

  McKenzie chopped one on to his stumps while trying to play a shot to third man. His 226-run knock, containing 28 fours and three sixes, came off 388 balls in 525 minutes.

  The effort by the Bangladeshi bowlers however came a little too late in the day as Smith and McKenzie had already set their team on course for a huge total.

  It was also only the second time that both openers had made double centuries in an innings. Australia's Bill Lawry (210) and Bobby Simpson (201) had achieved the feat, against West Indies at Bridgetown in 1964-65.
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