Mehidy And Jaker Lead Bangladesh Fight In Test Against South Africa. The first Test match between Bangladesh and South Africa at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka turned into a dramatic contest as Bangladesh staged a resilient fightback on Day 3. After a shaky start, the seventh-wicket partnership between Mehidy Hasan Miraz and debutant Jaker Ali revived Bangladesh’s innings and kept them afloat. Despite South Africa’s early dominance, Bangladesh managed to reduce the deficit, eventually taking a slender lead.
The rain-marred session added another layer of unpredictability to the game, with Bangladesh holding a lead of 65 runs by tea. The highlight of the day was the remarkable 138-run stand between Mehidy Hasan and Jaker Ali, which gave Bangladesh a glimmer of hope in a match that had seemed to slip away from them earlier.
South Africa Dominance Early On:
The third day began on a poor note for Bangladesh, who resumed play at 101-3, trailing by 202 runs after South Africa’s strong first innings score of 308. Kagiso Rabada, South Africa’s fiery pacer, wasted no time and immediately took advantage of the overcast conditions. Within the first half an hour of play, Rabada dismissed both the overnight batters, Mahmudul Hasan Joy and Mushfiqur Rahim, leaving Bangladesh in deep trouble.
Mahmudul Hasan, who had shown some promise, was the first to go. Attempting an ambitious shot off a Rabada delivery outside off-stump, he edged the ball to first slip where David Bedingham comfortably took the catch. Mahmudul’s departure for 40 (off 92 balls) further worsened Bangladesh’s situation.
Two balls later, Rabada sent Mushfiqur Rahim’s middle stump cartwheeling out of the ground with a full delivery that nipped back sharply. Rahim, who had added just 2 runs to his overnight score of 31, was cleaned up for 33, leaving Bangladesh in deep distress at 112-6.
Keshav Maharaj, South Africa’s left-arm spinner, joined the party by removing Litton Das with an exquisite delivery that caught the outside edge of Das’s bat. Initially given not out, South Africa used a review to reverse the decision, sending Litton Das back to the pavilion for just 7 runs. At this point, Bangladesh was staring at the possibility of an innings defeat.
Mehidy Hasan and Jaker Ali
At 112-6, with South Africa in complete control, the match seemed to be heading towards an inevitable conclusion. However, Mehidy Hasan and Jaker Ali had other plans. The duo began a patient recovery, showing resilience and composure against both pace and spin. Instead of going into a defensive shell, they capitalized on scoring opportunities, keeping the scoreboard ticking with boundaries and well-judged singles.
Mehidy Hasan, who has been Bangladesh’s standout performer throughout the World Test Championship (WTC) cycle, showcased his all-round capabilities once again. He began with an authoritative punch through backward point off Rabada and followed it up with a sublime drive off an overpitched delivery. His ability to counter both pace and spin was evident as he stepped down the track to Dane Piedt and launched him for a six over long-off.
Jaker Ali, on his Test debut, provided excellent support. His confidence grew as the innings progressed, and he employed the sweep shot effectively against Maharaj. The partnership soon crossed the 100-run mark, as both batters ensured that South Africa had to work hard for their wickets.
Jaker brought up his maiden Test fifty by flicking a ball down the leg-side for a boundary off Piedt. His contribution of 58 was vital in ensuring that Bangladesh stayed in the contest. Even though Maharaj eventually trapped Jaker lbw with an arm delivery, his partnership with Mehidy had taken Bangladesh from the brink of an innings defeat to a position of relative safety.
Rain Interrupts Play
As the partnership flourished, South Africa’s bowlers began to look short of ideas. Their attempts to break the stand included reviews for lbw decisions and caught-behind appeals, all of which were in vain. The duo’s calculated aggression frustrated the South African attack, and they nearly wiped out the deficit by lunch.
Unfortunately for South Africa, the rain gods had other plans. Just when it seemed like the visitors could regroup, heavy showers interrupted play. With the covers coming on, an early tea was taken. By then, Bangladesh had not only avoided the follow-on but had also secured a lead of 65 runs, reaching 267-7 at the break, with Mehidy still unbeaten on 77.
Kagiso Rabada and Keshav Maharaj
Despite Bangladesh’s impressive fightback, Kagiso Rabada and Keshav Maharaj remained South Africa’s standout performers with the ball. Rabada, with his fiery pace and accuracy, finished the day with figures of 4-35, making key breakthroughs at crucial moments. His ability to extract movement from the pitch, combined with relentless pressure, kept Bangladesh under the pump.
Maharaj, on the other hand, continued to trouble the Bangladeshi batters with his variations. He was unlucky not to have more wickets, as Mehidy and Jaker negotiated his spin with caution and skill. Maharaj’s dismissal of Jaker came at a crucial juncture, but the damage had already been done. He ended the day with figures of 3-98, having bowled an extended spell in the afternoon session.
South Africa First Innings Dominance
Before Bangladesh’s resurgence on Day 3, South Africa had dominated proceedings in the first two days of the Test. Batting first, the visitors had posted a commanding total of 308, thanks largely to a brilliant century by Kyle Verreynne. The wicketkeeper-batsman’s composed knock of 114 was the backbone of South Africa’s innings, with valuable contributions from Wiaan Mulder (54) and the lower order.
Taijul Islam was the pick of the Bangladeshi bowlers, claiming 5-122. His disciplined bowling kept South Africa in check during the middle overs, but Verreynne’s brilliance ensured that the visitors posted a formidable total.
In response, Bangladesh had collapsed to 106 all out on the first day, with Rabada, Maharaj, and Mulder sharing the wickets. South Africa’s bowling was clinical, and they took a first-innings lead of 202 runs, putting themselves in a commanding position.
Brief Scores
| Team | 1st Innings Performance | 2nd Innings Performance |
|---|---|---|
| South Africa | 308 (Kyle Verreynne 114, Wiaan Mulder 54; Taijul Islam 5-122) | – |
| Bangladesh | 106 (Mahmudul Hasan 30; Wiaan Mulder 3-22, Kagiso Rabada 3-26, Keshav Maharaj 3-34) | 267/7 (Mehidy Hasan 77*, Jaker Ali 58; Kagiso Rabada 4-35, Keshav Maharaj 3-98) |
Bangladesh Fight to Stay Afloat
Bangladesh’s efforts on Day 3 were commendable, especially after their first-innings collapse. Mehidy Hasan’s all-round capabilities were once again on display, as he held the innings together under immense pressure. His partnership with Jaker Ali not only avoided the follow-on but also placed Bangladesh in a position to push for a competitive second-innings total.
The resilience shown by both batters also highlighted Bangladesh’s growing confidence in Test cricket, especially against a formidable opponent like South Africa. For Jaker Ali, this was a debut to remember, and his fifty will surely boost his confidence for the remainder of the series.
Conclusion
The third day of the Bangladesh vs South Africa Test match saw an exciting contest unfold at the Shere Bangla National Stadium. Despite being on the back foot for most of the match, Bangladesh fought back through a brilliant partnership between Mehidy Hasan and Jaker Ali, frustrating South Africa’s bowlers and taking a slender lead. With Kagiso Rabada and Keshav Maharaj leading the charge for the visitors, the game is finely poised heading into the fourth day.
