Joy creates history, brings up maiden Test hundred

Opener Mahmudul Hasan has become the first Bangladeshi batter to score a hundred in Tests against South Africa. Joy's century is just the second one by a Bangladeshi in South Africa in any format. It was the right-hander's maiden international hundred.

Joy is only the sixth Asian opener to have a Test hundred in South Africa. Earlier, he became the first Bangladeshi batter to face 200 or more balls more than once in SENA (South Africa, England, New Zealand and Australia) countries. He is also the first Asian opener to play more than 200 balls in his debut innings in both New Zealand and South Africa. 

Joy reached his fifty in the morning session of day three off 170 balls and the second fifty came at a much quicker time. He brought up the milestone off 269 balls with 10 fours and a maximum. 

Debutant Lizaad Williams produced a peach of a delivery to dislodge Liton Das in the very first over after Lunch on Day 3 of the first Test in Durban on Saturday.

South Africa captain Dean Elgar opted not to take the new ball immediately as Williams struck, with an inswinger that went through the gap between Liton's bat and pad in the 80th over, four deliveries before the cherry was available.

Liton departed after an eye-pleasing 41 off 92 balls, striking six boundaries, and with him ended a crucial 82-run stand between the wicket-keeper batter and opener Mahmudul Hasan Joy.  

Yasir Ali joins Joy, batting on 88, in the middle as Bangladesh are 195 for six after 83 overs, still trailing by 172 runs.

Liton and Joy have showed great determination and courage in their unbeaten 82-run stand off 169 deliveries and with Liton driving Keshav Maharaj towards the long off for a single, Joy and Liton had brought up their fifty partnership in quick time, off 78 balls. 

Joy greeted Simon Harmer, star of Day 2, with a straight drive for a boundary, his fifth so far, to bring up the second fifty of his career. Joy played as many as 170 balls to reach the landmark, a demonstration of grit and determination. Joy let himself loose after fifty as he danced down the track to hit Harmer for a six over long on. 

Mahmudul was particularly severe on Harmer, who bowled quicker and fuller than yesterday. Mahmudul's fifty came up off 170 balls, when he drove Harmer straight down the ground, and he went on to dance down the track and launch him over wide long-on. Litton was also positive in his approach to Harmer and it nearly cost him when he appeared to inside-edge a Harmer delivery to Erwee at short-leg and South Africa celebrated only to see an unmoved Marais Erasmus. They reviewed, unsuccessfully, to lose their second review of the innings.