South Africa thrives on a placid pitch to post a commanding 298-1 as stumps on the opening day of the first Test against Bangladesh at the Senwes Park in Potchefstroom today.

Left-handed opener Dean Elgar hit an unbeaten 128 while Hashim Amla struck 68 when the stumps are drawn after 90 overs. Debutant Aiden Markram is the only casualty of the day when he was run out on 97.

The Amla-Elgar pair put on 102 runs for the unbroken second wicket.

End of over 60

South Africa are 214/1 after 60 overs. Hashim Amla has joined Elgar at the crease and looking to heap further misery on Bangladesh.

Its Tea on Day 1 of the first Test.

End of over 55 (SA 198/1, Elgar 101, Hashim Amla 0 n.o)

54.4, SA 198/1 - Elgar drives Mehedi and runs two to complete his ton. Fourth century for the South African batsman. 101 off 176 deliveries, hitting seven fours and two sixes.

54.2, SA 196/1 - Huge mix-up between the South African duo as Elgar pushes a delivery to the off side. Markram too eager to take the run was not even looking. Mominul threw it a t Mehedi Hasan and he dislodged the bails with Markram not even bothering to return back to his crease.

AK Markram run out 97 (152b 13x4 0x6) SR: 63.81

53.3, SA 195/0 - Elgar goes after Mahmudullah Riyad and hits him over wide long-on for six. Elgar reaches 98.

51.6, SA 183/0 - Mominul Haque to Elgar. Tigers take the review after umpire gave not out on a leg-before shout. Ball straying down the leg side. Not out.

South Africa are in the driving seat after Bangladesh got the wrong impression of the pitch. The opening duo of Elgar and Markram have made Bangladesh suffer.

End of over 50 ( SA 170/0, Markram 85, Elgar 85)

40. 6, SA 136/0 - Elgar whacks Mehedi over deep square-leg for six. Confident shot and ball had enough wings to float over the boundary.

End of over 40 (SA 129/0, Markram 65, Elgar 64)

Shafiul and Mehedi have managed to put the squeeze on the South Africa batsman in the last four overs, Given the nature of the pitch it seems more likely that one has to force the batsmen to make mistakes. There was a close call for Markram when an inside edge off Shafiul shaved past the stumps on the second delivery of the 40th over.

End of over 35 (SA 125/0)

33.3, SA 117/0 - Taskin digs one short and Elgar punishes him with a pull shot. Four runs.

31.4, SA 112/0 - Big shout from the Bangladesh players after Taskin banged one short and ball hit Markram high on the the side of the ribs. Not out says umpire.

End of over 30 (SA 112/0, Markram 55, Elgar 57 n.o)

Markram played Taskin Ahmed through long off for four on the 30th over. In the next ball he drove him through extra-cover and ran two to bring up his fifty. There was no respite on the next ball as well as Markham drove Taskin through mid on for four.

29.3, SA 108/0 - Markram plays Taskin through extra-cover and runs two. That's the 50 for the debutant.

28.3, SA 100/0 - Markram picks a single through backward point off Mehedi and that's the century run stand between the two openers.

The players are back after lunch. Taskin Ahmed bowled the first over and it was a maiden. South Africa have shown a lot of control and authority in the early sessiopn before lunch. They will be looking to assrt that dominance yet again in this second session.

It's lunch on Day 1 of the first Test match. After 27 overs of play South Africa are 99 without loss.

End of over 25 (SA 92/0, Markram 37, Elgar 55)

South Africa are cruising along without much problem. During the 24th over Markram wanted a quick single. There was a mix up but in the end Markram got back to his crease just in time. None of the Bangladesh bowlers have bothered the South Africa openers considerably.

The pitch almost looks on the slow side and the batsman can watch the ball come out to the bat and have had enough time to play their shots.

23.4, SA 86/0 - Elgar brings up his fifty with a single off Mehedi. 50 off 86 deliveries.

Dean Elgar is on 49 as Mehedi Hasan comes into the attack. The batsman does not get the run he was looking for from Mehedi's over.

End of over 20 (72/0, Markram 28, Elgar 44 n.o)

18.2 overs, SA 71/0 - Markram punches a shot on the up and ball falls just short of Mustafizur at backward point.

End of over 15

Its drinks on the first day. South Africa are 58 without loss after the end of 15 overs.

13.4, SA 50/0 - A cutter from Shafiul that kept low and Markram does not connect with his cut shot. Ball runs away to the boundary for four. Ball took an inside edge.

13.2, SA 46/0 - Markram punches Shafiul through extra cover for four.

South Africa are going along nicely. The opening duo have punished the bad balls and watched the ball closely when required. The pitch has favoured the batsman.

Taskin Ahmed is introduced to the attack. The lanky bowler will be hoping he gets some good bounce on a pitch that has offered very little to the fast bowlers so far.

End of over 10 (SA 28/0, Elgar 18, Markram 10 n.o)

9.2, SA 27/0 - Elgar drives Mehedi straight through the on side for four. That was a brutal shot as well.

7.1 overs, SA 19/0 - Elgar with a classy cover drive off Mehedi Hasan and ball caresses the floor all the way to the boundary.

Mehedi Hasan has come into the attack to bowl the sixth over.

End of over 5

Aiden Markram is showing his class in his first Test cap for South Africa. He struck two beautiful boundaries off Shafiul and Mustafizur. The pitch has not looked very lively yet.

4.4, SA 13/0 - Markram leans into a beautiful drive through the covers off Mustafizur. Ball races to the boundary for four.

3.5, SA 8/0 - Markram strokes Shafiul through mid on. Shafiul strayed from his off side line and strayed down the leg side. Beautifully played by Markram.

2.1 overs, SA 3/0 - Dean Elgar opens the account for South Africa. Mustafizur slanted the ball into the left-hander and Elgar punches it through wide of mid on for three runs.

The first over from Mustafizur is a maiden and Shafiul Islam is bowling to Markram.

The players are out in the field and Mustafizur Rahman is coming in to bowl the first ball of the day. Left-handed Dean Elgar is facing Mustafizur and debutant Aiden Markram is at the other end.

Bangladesh win toss and elect to bowl first in the first Test against South Africa at Senwes Park, Potchesfstroom.

The pitch looks green but it's not as hard as it could be. The pitch could turn out to be spin friendly later on in this match according to pitch experts.

Bangladesh have dropped Soumya Sarkar, who most likely did not recover from his injury in time to play the first Test. Liton Das takes his place in the squad.

Welcome to the live updates of the first Test between South Africa and Bangladesh at Benoni's Senwes Park.

The pitch is dry and the fast bowlers can expect good carry through to the wicket-keeper. Bangladesh are the only team to have played a Test match against the Proteas on this venue. That Test match was in 2002 and this is only the second time that a Test match is being played on this venue.

Bangladesh XI : Tamim Iqbal, Liton Das, Imrul Kayes, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim (c), Mahmudullah Riyad, Sabbir Rahman, Mehedi Hasan, Shafiul Islam, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman.

South Africa  XI: Aiden Markram, Dean Elgar, Hashim Amla, Temba Bavuma, Faf du Plessis (c), Quinton de Kock, Andile Phehlukwayo,Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Morne Morkel, Duane Olivier