New Delhi: South African Cricket team is looking like a team on a mission. On a rack-turning pitch of Mirpur, which was supposed to help the Bangladeshi team, the South African team came out on the top after they dismantled the spin attack led by Taijul Islam who claimed a 5-wicket haul and thereby completed 200 wickets in his test career.
The Proteas improved their point-percentage to 47.62 with the victory, which helped them jump over New Zealand and England and take fourth place on the standings. Bangladesh’s loss sees their point-percentage drop to 30.56 and they continue to languish in seventh place with India and Australia still remaining in the top two spots on the standings.
Source: ICC
What happened in the 1st Test?
Winning the toss, Bangladeshi skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto decided to bat first on a spin-friendly track. However, the plan backfired as South Africa’s pacers and spinners thrived in favourable conditions. The Tigers were eventually bowled for 106 runs. Kagiso Rabada, Wiaan Mulder, and Keshav Maharaj each claimed three wickets.
In reply, Bangladesh’s spinners fought with grit as Taijul Islam and Mehidy Hasan shared 7-wickets apiece between them. For the Proteas, lower-order wicket-keeper batsman Kyle Verreynne stitched a healthy partnership with Wiaan Mulder and Dane Piedt. Verreynne in the meantime reached his 2nd century as he scored 114 runs off 144 balls. This gave the South Africans a lead of 202 runs over the Tigers in the second innings.
Bangladesh’s horrendous batting display continued once again in the third innings. Fast bowler Kagiso Rabada swung the red cherry both ways to reduce the Tigers in a dilapidated position of 112/6. All-rounder Mehidy Hasan (97) offered strong resistance, forming crucial partnerships with the lower order to push the total to 307. However, by the time the entire proceedings ended for the home team, it was very clear that who will emerge as the winner. The target for the South Africans in the fourth innings was 106. The Proteas chased the total with ease as Tony de Zorzi (41) and Tristan Stubbs (30*) guided the side to a seven-wicket victory.