Tigers suffer 7-wicket defeat despite Mehidy’s valiant effort

Mehidy Hasan Miraz’s valiant effort went in vain as Bangladesh suffered a seven-wicket defeat to South Africa in the first cricket Test today at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium here.

Miraz who helped the side quell the fear of an innings defeat missed out his well-deserved ton by three runs after being out on 97.

Resuming the Day 4 at 283-7 and 81 runs ahead, Bangladesh set a goal to take the lead past 200 to put South Africa in pressure with the pitch expected to deteriorate as the day goes on.

But a lethal pace bowling show of Kagiso Rabada dismantled Bangladesh. Rabada who was the quickest to 300 wickets during his 3-26 in the first innings, finished with 6-39 to shatter Bangladesh’s hope of making an unthinkable.

In the face of Rabada’s venom, the hosts were able to survive just 30 minutes and add 24 runs to their overnight total to be all out for 307 in second innings, setting South Africa 106-run for victory.

South Africa completed the inevitable by reaching 106-3 in 22 overs just before the lunch session on Day 4.

Bangladesh were bowled out for 106 in the first innings and South Africa replied with 308 all out, taking a huge 202-run lead.

And innings defeat loomed large but Miraz resisted and shared two important partnerships to quell the fear before the Day 3 was truncated by rain and bad light.

He firstly got the support from Jaker Ali Anik (58) who became the 18th Bangladeshi batter to score half-century on debut and shared a record 138-run for the seventh wicket. Miraz then shared 34-run with Nayeem Hasan for the eight wickets.

South Africa had the new ball available on Day 3 but due to shortage of the light, they refused to take it.

On Day 4, they started with the new ball and Rabada struck in just third ball of the day by trapping Nayeem Hasan leg-before for his overnight 16 and in doing so completed his 15th five-wicket haul in the Test cricket.
Taijul Islam, who scored 7, poked a delivery from Mulder to second slip after Bangladesh went past 300.

In the next over, Rabada got the better of Miraz, denying him the century as he steered a length delivery to slip after hitting 10 fours and one six in his 191-ball knock.

Left-arm spinner Taijul Islam who took 5-122 in the first innings, picked all three wickets of South Africa but that mattered little.

With rain in the forecast, captain Aiden Markram and Tony de Zorzi made a brisk start for South Africa, sharing 42 runs in 9.5 overs.

Taijul broke through with the wicket of Markram with a straight delivery for 20 before had Zorzi caught by Hasan Mahmud at long-on, spinning one past him sharply.

Zorzi made the team-best 41 off 52, including seven fours.
Tristan Stubbs struck 30 off 37, laced with four fours and one six to drive the side to the victory before Taijul dismissed David Bedingham for 12.

The second and final match of the series begins at Zahur Ahmed Chowhdury Stadium in Chattogram on October 29. (BSS)