Bangladesh turned a collapse to 22 for three into their highest Test score against South Africa, reaching 327 for six after electing to bat. Hridoy, the 25-year-old playing his fourth Test, and Litton Das, unbeaten on 92, led the response after Rabada claimed South Africa’s first five wickets.

Hridoy shared 99 runs with Tanzid Hasan, who made 67, for the fourth wicket before adding 200 with veteran batter Litton for the sixth. Their partnership was Bangladesh’s highest stand for any wicket against South Africa.

Rabada struck three times in an incisive opening spell, then removed two more batters off successive balls when he returned immediately after lunch. He finished with five for 51 but did not take another wicket after his second spell.

Bangladesh’s innings began badly on a surface that again offered seam movement early in the match. Mahfijul Islam became only the fourth Test debutant to be dismissed by the first ball of a match, edging Rabada to gully.

Mominul Haque was caught behind in Rabada’s second over, while captain Najmul Hossain Shanto lost his off stump after driving at a delivery that swung into the left-hander.

Hridoy extends prolific run

Hridoy batted for 227 balls, hitting 14 fours and a six. He reached his hundred by slashing Dane Paterson to the third-man boundary, then removed his helmet and kissed the ground.

The innings matched Mahmudul Hasan Joy’s Bangladesh record for the highest individual Test score against South Africa. Before Hridoy’s century, Bangladesh had scored only one hundred in 16 previous Tests against the hosts.

Marco Jansen ended Hridoy’s innings with the final ball of the day, trapping him leg before wicket with a swinging full toss. The dismissal gave South Africa hope of wrapping up the Bangladesh innings early on Monday, with the second new ball only four overs old.

Hridoy arrived in South Africa after a strong run of scores. He made 350 not out for Bangladesh A against South Africa A in Potchefstroom in August, then posted a Bangladesh-record 242 not out and 82 against West Indies in Sylhet last week.

Bangladesh’s 327 for six surpassed their previous highest Test total against South Africa, 326 in Chittagong in 2015.