Watch cricket video highlights of South Africa tour of Bangladesh 2024. First test between Bangladesh and South Africa. Venue of the match will be Mirpur.
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South Africa has moved up to fourth position in the World Test Championship rankings with a seven-wicket victory against Bangladesh at Mirpur. They pursued a target of 106 in 22 overs and won before noon on the fourth day, with Kagiso Rabada taking nine wickets. This was their first Test win in the subcontinent in 15 matches, extending back a decade to their victory over Sri Lanka in Galle in 2014. The last exchanges had an aggressive and intent-driven tone. South Africa scored 15 fours and two sixes, averaging little under five runs per over.
They lost three of their top four in the process, but the batsmen were mainly at ease on different surfaces, and new No. 3, Tristan Stubbs, who was undefeated on 30, impressed with his adaptability. With a short total to defend, Bangladesh started with Hasan Mahmud, their only seamer, and Taijul Islam, their most successful bowler in the first innings. His first ball was a full toss, which Aiden Markram sliced past extra cover to begin the takedown of Taijul. Three balls later, Markram smashed Taijul through the covers, and in his following over, Tony de Zorzi hit two boundaries.
Hasan was more aggressive up front, drawing an edge from de Zorzi that dropped short of second slip, and Taijul believed he had a breakthrough when he had Markram caught lbw in the eighth over, on 13. Markram missed a sweep and was smacked in the pad, but the incident was immediately reviewed, and replays revealed he had underedged the ball. South Africa were unconcerned about the incident, and de Zorzi completed the over by flicking Taijul past square leg for four more. The opening partnership put up 42 in 10 overs before Taijul had some success.
He bowled Markram through the gate, with South Africa still 65 runs behind. De Zorzi and Stubbs had established themselves with a stand of 29 in 32 balls, but de Zorzi grew overly ambitious. He rushed on Taijul, attempting to knock him out of the ground, but pulled the ball to Hasan at long-on. Again, there was no slowdown. Stubbs removed 10 runs from the rest of the over. David Bedingham was bowled by a brilliant ball from Taijul that spun away and took the edge, and he was removed with nine runs remaining. Taijul ended the match 8 for 165, including a five-for in the first innings.
Earlier, South Africa needed just 4.5 overs to dismiss Bangladesh and retain their goal at little over 100 after the hosts’ lower-middle order dragged the match to a fourth day. Bangladesh’s advantage extended to 81 on the third evening, when they faced the second new ball for five overs, forcing South Africa to utilize spinners in failing light. This changed on the fourth morning. The second fresh ball was accessible and taken, and it had an almost instantaneous effect. Rabada started the game, and his third ball struck Nayeem Hasan on the front pad.
Nayeem’s wicket earned Rabada his 15th Test five-for, capping off a spectacular game in which he got his 300th wicket. Mehidy went into the 1990s with a boundary off Wiaan Mulder, but was tested by Rabada, who teased the outside edge and caused an aerial flip, which Tony de Zorzi dropped. Taijul Islam scored Bangladesh’s 300th run when he blasted Mulder through a gully, but his enjoyment was short-lived. Two balls later, he feathered one to second slip, leaving Mehidy with the final batter.
He was rushing to get his hundred and was on 97 when he attempted to ramp Rabada, but the length was off and he guided the ball into slip instead. Rabada finished with six for 46. Bangladesh had added 24 runs to their overnight score, and even if they thought they had anything to bowl at, South Africa quickly proved it wasn’t enough. South Africa has only played two Tests in Bangladesh in the previous 16 years, with both matches of their 2015 series being rained out. They last won a Test in the nation in 2008, winning both by an innings.
The second match in this series begins next Tuesday in Chattogram. After that, South Africa will play four home Tests, two against Sri Lanka and two against Pakistan. If they win at least four of their remaining five matches, they have a solid chance of making the WTC final.
