It took only a couple of hours for South Africa on the fourth day to wrap up the first Test against Bangladesh in Dhaka. Bangladesh fought hard on the third day with Mehidy Hasan Miraz leading the charge and even potentially starting conversations of the hosts making a dramatic comeback if they get a lead of more than 150.
However, Kagiso Rabada squashed all those dreams as he ran through the Bangladesh lower order along with Wiaan Mulder to keep the lead down to 105. It took the Proteas only 4.5 overs to pick the final three wickets.
Rabada started the day with the wicket of Nayeem Hasan to complete a well-deserved fifer. The latter was plumb in front on the third delivery of the day before Mulder had Taijul Islam edging to third slip. Rabada dismissed Mehidy to bowl Bangladesh out for 307. The ace South African speedster finished with nine wickets in the match (3/26 and 6/46).
South Africa chase down 106 comfortably
Chasing 106, South Africa started well and kept getting boundaries, eating into the deficit. The opening pair of Aiden Markram and Tony de Zorzi added 42 in 9.5 overs. It was Taijul who got Bangladesh their first breakthrough as he went past Markram’s outside edge to knock him over. de Zorzi continued to chip away and made 41 before he holed out to long-on.
Taijul picked up his third wicket when he had David Bedingham caught-behind with a beauty. However, Tristan Stubbs, at the other end, got a flurry of boundaries on either side of Bedingham’s wicket to take South Africa home. Kyle Verreynne was awarded the player of the match for his 114 which took the game away from Bangladesh in the first innings.
This is South Africa’s first win in Asia since 2014. Prior to this, they lost nine in a row in Asia. Their last win came in July 2014 in Sri Lanka. In fact, their last series win was also in July 2014 when they won 1-0 in Sri Lanka. Their last tour to Bangladesh was drawn 0-0 as rain dominated proceedings.
Another positive from this win for South Africa is that they have moved up to the fourth spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) table. Their win percentage stands at 47.61% and they are in with a real chance of making it to the final next year.
BRIEF SCORES: Bangladesh 106 (Mahmudul Hasan Joy 30, Wiaan Mulder 3/22, Kagiso Rabada 3/26, Keshav Maharaj 3/34) & 307 (Mehidy Hasan Miraz 97, Jaker Ali 58, Kagiso Rabada 6/46, Keshav Maharaj 3/105) lost to South Africa 308 (Kyle Verreynne 114, Wiaan Mulder 54, Taijul Islam 5/122, Hasan Mahmud 3/66) & 106/3 (Tony de Zorzi 41, Tristan Stubbs 30*, Taijul Islam 3/43) by seven wickets.