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'Game was poised in our favour' - Amla

Bangladesh may receive most of the plaudits for their plucky performance for most of the three days of the drawn first Test but Hashim Amla believes that South Africa were in pole position when the weather intervened

Firdose Moonda
Firdose Moonda
25-Jul-2015
Bangladesh may receive most of the plaudits for their plucky performance for most of the three days of the drawn first Test but Hashim Amla believes that South Africa were in pole position when the weather intervened. Amla, who is only in his seventh Test as captain and remains undefeated, saw an opportunity to push for a win had play been possible on the final two days.
"We had a slight advantage, with Bangladesh having to bat on the last day. Even if we had got a score of 250, it would have been tough for Bangladesh to chase," Amla said. "At 61 without loss, going into the fourth day, we had the advantage with us. The game was poised in our favour."
When play was called off midway through the third session on Thursday, South Africa were 17 runs behind Bangladesh's first innings total but had not lost any wickets. Dean Elgar and Stiaan van Zyl looked comfortable and were scoring quicker than South Africa had done for most of their innings. Given that, Amla's idea that South Africa could have added another 267 runs does not seem unreasonable. Whether they would have been able to bowl a confident and mature Bangladesh line-up out on an unhelpful surface is another question.
That's why South Africa will probably take more out of the Chittagong Test from a batting perspective than a bowling one. Although their batting let them down in the first innings, the promise shown by Elgar and van Zyl bodes well for South Africa's search for a new opening pair. Both are confident and bullish. Elgar, in his 16th Test and eighth as opener, had already adopted seniority. He was the grinder. Van Zyl, a regular No. 3 and in his fourth Test, compliments Elgar as the aggressor.
Both offer a little bit with the ball as well, which did not hurt in a match where the rest of South Africa's attack struggled. With no pace, no bounce and no swing, Dale Steyn, Vernon Philander and Morne Morkel were challenged. Amla praised their effort without being overly critical, perhaps because they all seemed to be getting back into the groove as the Bangladesh innings ended and may have been in it by the time Bangladesh batted again. "Our seamers tried exceptionally hard. "The wicket was probably the best to bat on when Bangladesh were batting and to their credit they batted really well. Our seamers tried hard and I think they put in a good showing," Amla said.
Worryingly, they did not seem to have put any effort in the weeks leading up to the series. Modern cricket's packed schedule means rest is essential but so is preparation. Steyn and Philander did not even have a warm-up game before the first Test and Morkel bowled just five overs in the third ODI. Managing the pace pack is likely to be South Africa's biggest challenge for the next nine months, which includes a full tour of India, a home series against England and the World T20.
At least two of those series - the India tour and the World T20 - will require match-winning spinners and in that department South Africa are starting to become spoilt for choice. Simon Harmer was the most impressive bowler in the first Test, found considerable turn and showed fight in his willingness to flight the ball and invite the batsmen to take him on. He followed up a seven-wicket debut haul with a three-for in Chittagong and could push Dane Piedt to the edges of the picture.
"Simon Harmer is turning out to be a good spinner for us; he showed good control, he has got a lovely energy and he fits into the team well," Amla said. So much so that Amla "did not feel the need" to bowl their other offspinner, JP Duminy, before the 95th over of the Bangladesh innings. "We had Simon bowling offspin and Stiaan filled up a lot of overs in holding the game," Amla explained.
South Africa may further explore their spin options in the second Test in Dhaka where Amla said, "if it looks like a two-spinner wicket, it may be an option," to play Aaron Phangiso as well as Harmer. It may also be an option to give Kagiso Rabada a run, especially if South Africa take inspiration from what Bangladesh have done with their young gun, Mustafizur Rahman.
The hosts have provided a lot for South Africa to learn from, primarily that they are not to be taken lightly. South Africa saw that in the one-day series and after being humbled there, would want to ensure they make a statement in the format where they remain the top-ranked team.
"We've come all the way from SA, so we want to be playing cricket. There's no use getting frustrated with the weather. What counts is when we do have an opportunity, whether we take it or not," Amla said. That opportunity will come again next Thursday.

Firdose Moonda is ESPNcricinfo's South Africa correspondent