Bangladesh batters continued their abysmal performance to give South Africa a total control of the second and final cricket Test at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram today. The hosts were reduced to 38-4 before bad light forced an early stump to Day 2, replying to South Africa’s mammoth 575-6 declared.
They are now trailing by 537 runs and a potential follow-on scare loomed large heavily. To avoid the follow-on, they still need 338 runs, which looked beyond their imagination given their recently vulnerability with the willow.
South Africa established its full command of the match, riding on three maiden centuries from three different batters.
Tony de Zorzi struck 177 and Wiaan Mulder made 105 not out to help South Africa tighten its grip. Earlier on Day 1, Tristan Stubbs hit 106.
Left-arm spinner Taijul Islam claimed 5-198, his second in the as many Tests but that mattered little. The visitors marched towards a big total with overnight unbeaten batters Tony de Zorzi and David Bedingham batting with unwavering resolve after resuming at 307-2.
They kept Bangladesh bowlers at bay, playing all kind of shots, specially the sweep shots and reverse sweep against the spinners impeccably.
Taijul then took the onus to help the side hit back, triggering a mini collapse that forced South Africa losing three wickets for just five runs to be reduced to 391-5 from 386-2.
But the first hour of morning session looked completely gloomy for Bangladesh. De Zorzi and Bedingham were unfazed by any kind of plan as the pitch still appeared to be good to bat on.
De Zorzi converted his maiden century to 150 from 235 balls, smashing a tossed-up delivery of Tajiul through mid-wicket for a four.
He appeared to make it double ton but Taijul caused a mental distraction by rattling Bedingham’s stump with a quicker delivery to end 116-run partnership.
Bedingham who raised his third fifty off 70 balls, with a single off Mehidy Hasan, was dismissed on 59.
An over later, de Zorzi who was playing sweep shot to precision, missed the line to be trapped leg-before. That ended his marathon 269 ball-177, which included 12 fours and four sixes.
Kyle Verreynne, the centurion of the first Test, also missed a sweep shot to be trapped leg-before for a duck, handing Taijul his 14th five-for.Just after the lunch, pacer Nahid Rana further troubled South Africa, dismissing Ryan Rickelton for 12 after he nicked a delivery to wicket-keeper Mahidul Islam Ankon.
As Bangladesh sensed a chance to expose the South African tail, Mulder and Muthusamy came up with steely resolve to further frustrate Bangladesh.
Both the batters plundered Bangladesh bowlers with ease to rotate the scoreboard at rapid pace with Mulder particularly harsh on the spinners.
The declaration came after Mulder completed his century from 150 balls and that too in befitting style by hitting Taijul Islam for a six over the top.
He finally was unbeaten on 105 after hitting eight fours and four sixes.
Mulder and Senuran Muthusamy shared 152 runs for the unbeaten seventh wicket stand after a mini collapse, inflicted by Taijul Islam.
Senuran Muthusamy also hit his maiden half-century and remained not out on 68 off 75 with the help of five fours and two sixes.
South Africa overall struck 17 sixes in this innings, which is their highest against any opponent in Test format, eclipsing their 15 against West Indies in 2010.
Fast bowler Kagiso Rabada who is back at No.1 bowler in ICC Test rankings, struck twice to extend Bangladesh’s agony.
He reduced Bangladesh to 21-2 in fifth over, dismissing Shadman Islam for duck and Zakir Hasan for 2, via wicket-keeper Verreynne.His new ball partner Dane Paterson had Mahmudul Hasan (10) caught by Aiden Markram before left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj removed night watchman Hasan Mahmud.
Mominul Haque was batting on 6 with captain Najmul Hossain Shanto on 4.
