Potchefstroom offers something for everyone

It may not look like it but there is a lot to get excited about in Potchefstroom, whether you're South African or Bangladeshi. Though the first Test is hardly the stuff great dramas are made of, it is providing both sides with positives mostly because of the pitch. Yes, it's placid. No, it's not deteriorating. But still, it is serving as a stage to satisfy some demands, even though the hosts would not originally have thought it would.

Pre-match, Faf du Plessis admitted South Africa requested something with some pace and bounce. That's a tough ask here, where it is traditionally flat, made tougher by the fact that it's the early season and there wouldn't have been much rain. In hindsight, South Africa shouldn't be too displeased. Though their hearts may be telling them to make it as green and mean against subcontinental sides as possible, their heads know it is not always sensible.

South Africa's batting has been their weakness in the last year and they don't want to subject themselves to the same torrid conditions as they try to rebuild. A pitch like this would have helped their batsmen gain confidence they will need later in the summer, when India arrive and they may have to bat on spicier surfaces.

Aiden Markram got an easing into international cricket, Dean Elgar took the leap into the newly established elite in the country, Hashim Amla became Hashim Amla again and though Temba Bavuma and Faf du Plessis did not have enough time and Quinton de Kock did not even get the chance to bat (yet), suddenly things look a lot more solid than they did two months ago. And unless something completely unexpected happens in the next two days, they are likely to win the match.

But Bangladesh also win. Their 320 was their highest in South Africa by some distance, and only six short of their highest-ever score against South Africa. The only other time they have managed over 250 was the first time they played here, following on in the second-innings in East London in 2002. That pitch was flat; this one may be flatter.

The surface should not take away from the way Bangladesh approached their innings. The marked difference from the Bangladesh now and the Bangladesh that South Africans may have in their memory from 2008 is that the class of 2017 is confident and attacking. They believe in their abilities and they're not afraid to say it - Sabbir Rahman confidently said even if South Africa scored 1,000 runs Bangladesh would back themselves to get it - or to show it. Against the short ball, Mominul Haque, the new holder of the highest score by a Bangladesh batsman in South Africa - took on the short ball. That alone should say how much Bangladesh have changed.

In the four Tests, Bangladesh have played in South Africa before this tour, they have lost all by an innings. They might lose this match as well but not by that much of a margin.

Perhaps South Africa shouldn't really be surprised. The last time they saw Bangladesh in whites, just over two years ago, Bangladesh took a first-innings lead in the first Test and were performing impressively in the second. Since then, Bangladesh have beaten England and Australia at home, scored over 500 against New Zealand in Wellington, were competitive in patches in India and won a Test in Sri Lanka. They wanted this tour to illustrate that they could transfer that overseas. The early evidence is that they are succeeding, to some degree, especially when it comes to their mental approach.

Rather than enjoy all the things mentioned above, Bangladesh are understandably upset with themselves for not doing more. "I don't think we are happy scoring just 300 runs in this type of wicket," Mominul said. "They got almost 500 runs so we should have scored at least 400, or even closer to their total. I don't think anyone is happy with this score."

Mominul was also not entirely happy with his own score, not because he was eyeing a century but because he may have something of a point to prove. He was dropped for the Australia series and a public outcry resulted in him being recalled within 24 hours. This is first significant score since and while he has not changed much about his batting style, he has changed his mindset. "I don't think I changed my batting style. I changed my mentality. In these situations, if you get stuck in your mentality, you will suffer. If you have to survive in this level, you have to be mentally strong," he said.

Collectively, the whole Bangladesh side has become stronger. For now, it may not make for the most intriguing cricket but it is an important stage in their continued evolution as a Test team and that is a small victory.