Bangladesh 1st Test Day 4 Complete 2nd Inning 307 Runs Against SA. In a thrilling encounter at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur, Bangladesh managed to set a 106-run target for South Africa in the first Test match of their series. Despite some notable performances from the Tigers’ batsmen, particularly from Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who narrowly missed his century, the visitors took control of the game, thanks to a clinical bowling display led by Kagiso Rabada.
Day 4: Bangladesh Bowled Out for 307 in Their 2nd Innings
On the fourth day of the Test match, Bangladesh resumed their innings at 283 for 7, with Mehidy Hasan Miraz unbeaten on 87 and Nayeem Hasan on 16. The Tigers were looking to extend their lead and set a more challenging target for the Proteas. However, South Africa’s spearhead bowler, Kagiso Rabada, had other plans. Rabada, who had already caused plenty of trouble for Bangladesh’s top and middle order, struck in the first over of the day, trapping Nayeem Hasan in front of the stumps for an LBW decision. Nayeem departed after contributing 16 runs.
With Nayeem gone, it was up to Mehidy Hasan Miraz to shepherd the tail and push Bangladesh’s total beyond 300. But South Africa continued to apply pressure, and two overs later, Taijul Islam was dismissed for 7, falling to Wiaan Mulder after a well-placed catch by Tristan Stubbs. This brought Bangladesh to 303 for 9, leaving Mehidy with the daunting task of scoring the remaining runs while avoiding a collapse.
In a heart-breaking turn of events, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who was within touching distance of a century, was dismissed on 97 runs off 191 balls when Wiaan Mulder delivered a sharp bouncer, and the all-rounder misjudged the shot, leading to a simple catch to Aiden Markram. His dismissal brought an end to Bangladesh’s innings at 307, setting South Africa a target of 106 runs for victory.
Bangladesh Key Contributions in the Second Innings
Bangladesh’s innings was a story of resilience from the lower order after a top-order collapse. Their start had been rocky, with Shadman Islam, Mominul Haque, and Najmul Hossain Shanto failing to provide any meaningful contributions. The openers Mahmudul Hasan Joy and Najmul Hossain Shanto were expected to build a solid foundation, but their efforts were thwarted by Kagiso Rabada’s fiery spell.
- Mahmudul Hasan Joy: Joy was the first of the few top-order batsmen who looked comfortable at the crease. His solid 40 off 92 balls provided some much-needed stability, but he was dismissed by Rabada, caught by David Bedingham.
- Mushfiqur Rahim: Mushfiqur, one of Bangladesh’s most experienced players, contributed 33 runs from 39 balls before falling victim to Rabada, leaving Bangladesh teetering at 106 for 5.
- Mehidy Hasan Miraz: The real highlight of the innings was Mehidy Hasan Miraz. His gritty knock of 97, featuring 10 boundaries and a six, showcased his resilience under pressure. Batting with the tail, he anchored the innings and helped Bangladesh cross the 300-run mark, which seemed unlikely after their middle-order collapse.
- Jaker Ali: Another notable contribution came from Jaker Ali, who scored 58 off 111 balls. His partnership with Miraz for the seventh wicket was crucial in lifting Bangladesh from 112 for 6 to 250 for 7, giving the hosts a fighting chance.
South Africa Bowling Brilliance
The South African bowlers were relentless in their approach throughout Bangladesh’s second innings. Leading the charge was Kagiso Rabada, who ended with remarkable figures of 6 for 46. Rabada’s ability to extract pace and bounce from the surface troubled the Bangladeshi batsmen, and his clever use of variations ensured that he remained the go-to bowler for skipper Aiden Markram.
Keshav Maharaj played an essential supporting role, picking up 3 wickets for 105 runs from his 37 overs. His ability to bowl long spells and maintain pressure from one end allowed Rabada and Mulder to attack from the other. Maharaj’s dismissal of the Bangladeshi captain Najmul Hossain Shanto and later Litton Das proved pivotal in breaking Bangladesh’s batting resistance.
- Kagiso Rabada: 17.5 overs, 6 wickets for 46 runs, economy rate of 2.57
- Keshav Maharaj: 37 overs, 3 wickets for 105 runs, economy rate of 2.83
- Wiaan Mulder: 13 overs, 1 wicket for 40 runs, economy rate of 3.07
South Africa Dominance
With a modest target of 106 to win, South Africa was poised for a comfortable victory. The conditions favored batting, and the South African top order wasted no time in capitalizing on the situation. Despite a few early jitters, South Africa reached the target in just 16.4 overs, scoring 108 for 2.
David Bedingham and Aiden Markram provided the early impetus, with Markram playing a captain’s innings to steer the team home. Markram’s aggressive approach saw him remain unbeaten on 48 off 39 balls, striking five boundaries and a six. Bedingham, who had already played a pivotal role with a superb 68 in the first innings, contributed 26 runs before falling to a sharp delivery from Hasan Mahmud.
Keshav Maharaj, who was promoted up the order to finish the chase, supported Markram with 18 not out off 12 balls, hitting three boundaries in the process.
Scorecard Table for Bangladesh 2nd Innings
| Bangladesh Batting | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mahmudul Hasan Joy c Bedingham b Rabada | 40 | 92 | 5 | 0 | 43.47 |
| Shadman Islam c de Zorzi b Rabada | 1 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 14.28 |
| Mominul Haque c Mulder b Rabada | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Najmul Hossain Shanto (c) lbw b Maharaj | 23 | 49 | 2 | 1 | 46.93 |
| Mushfiqur Rahim b Rabada | 33 | 39 | 3 | 0 | 84.61 |
| Litton Das † c †Verreynne b Maharaj | 7 | 15 | 1 | 0 | 46.66 |
| Mehidy Hasan Miraz c Mulder b Rabada | 97 | 191 | 10 | 1 | 50.78 |
| Jaker Ali lbw b Maharaj | 58 | 111 | 7 | 0 | 52.25 |
| Nayeem Hasan lbw b Rabada | 16 | 29 | 1 | 0 | 55.17 |
| Taijul Islam c Stubbs b Mulder | 7 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 100.00 |
| Hasan Mahmud not out | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 133.33 |
| Extras | 21 | ||||
| Total | 307 |
Key Takeaways
- Kagiso Rabada’s incredible 6-for performance in Bangladesh’s second innings sealed the match for South Africa.
- Mehidy Hasan Miraz’s 97 was a standout effort for Bangladesh, but he lacked enough support from the top order.
- South Africa’s chase was clinical, led by Aiden Markram’s 48 not out.
- Bangladesh will need to regroup ahead of the second Test to avoid a series defeat.
Conclusion
In this opening Test of the South Africa tour of Bangladesh, the Proteas asserted their dominance with both bat and ball. Kagiso Rabada’s phenomenal 6-wicket haul in Bangladesh’s second innings was the standout performance, alongside Mehidy Hasan Miraz’s valiant 97 for Bangladesh. While the Tigers fought hard, their inability to cope with Rabada’s pace and Maharaj’s spin was their undoing. The South African team, led by Aiden Markram, showed composure in the final chase to clinch victory and go 1-0 up in the series.
