Bangladesh suffered a crushing seven-wicket defeat against an inexperienced South African side on the fourth morning of the first Test at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on Thursday, despite Mehidy Hasan Miraz鈥檚 batting heroics in the second innings.
The hosts put up a much better batting display in the second innings thanks to Mehidy, who scored 97, the second highest of his Test career.听
But the visitors eased to the target of 106-3 in just 22 overs in the first session of the penultimate day of the Test. Taijul Islam got all three wickets.
This win has lifted South Africa up to the fourth position in the ICC World Test Championship with 47.62 PCT.听
Bangladesh, on the other hand, have slipped to 30.56 PCT after three consecutive losses against India and now South Africa.听
This was South Africa鈥檚 first Test win in the subcontinent since July 2014, and their stand-in captain for the match, Aiden Markram, hailed that the win 'special鈥�.
鈥楩or a pretty young and inexperienced group to come to get a win is great for us and the environment it creates in the changing room鈥�, Markram told the reporters after the match.
鈥業t gives us a bit of belief that we can compete in conditions that seem to stack against us. To play in the subs and in Bangladesh. It excites us to face the challenges we probably face ahead.鈥櫶�
With only 105 runs to defend, Hasan Mahmud started to build pressure from one end. But on a condition that was offering something to the pacers, Bangladesh had none other than him.听
The pressure was eased away from the other end as Markam and Tony De Zorzi continued to attack Taijul鈥攖the star of Bangladesh first innings bowling. The first six boundaries were all hit off Taijul.听
The left arm spinner, though, broke through first to break the 42-run opening stand. Markram (20) was clean bowled after surviving an lbw decision through review earlier.听
De Zorzi holed out to long on, but his brisk 41 off 52 helped South Africa closer to victory.听
Taijul then got his third with a perfect left-arm spinners delivery that pitched on off then spun away from David Beddingham before kissing his bat.
Tristan Stubbs and Ryan Rickelton got over the line, with Stubbs remaining unbeaten on 30.听
It was a breezy morning at Mirpur, with Bangladesh resuming the day on 81 runs ahead with three wickets remaining. They batted for 25 minutes to add further 24 runs.听
Kagiso Rabada struck in the first over of the day with the second new ball that had been due since Wednesday evening.
Nayeem Hasan was plumbed in front as the ball kept a tad low. It was Rabada鈥檚 fifth in the innings, a milestone he now achieved 15 times in his career.听
Wiaan Mulder removed Taijul, who wanted to drive away from the body.听
Mehidy on 97 was running out of partners and wanted to score quickly. He tried to steer one away off Rabada but couldn鈥檛 find the gap and was caught at slip.听
Though the all-rounder missed his second hundred, it was his innings that gave Bangladesh something to fight for.听
Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto said that Mehidy鈥檚 innings gave them confidence.
鈥楾he way Miraz batted gave us confidence. We had not done that in the past in such conditions. As batters, we need to take responsibility with the new ball,鈥� said Shanto after the match.
Rabada took six in the second innings and finished with a match figure of 9-72. Left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj took three wickets each in the two innings.听
The second and final Test between the two team鈥檚 begins at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram on October 29. 听
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