South Africa 1st Test Win By 7 Wickets Against Bangladesh

South Africa 1st Test Win By 7 Wickets Against Bangladesh. South Africa displayed an impressive all-round performance to claim a resounding 7-wicket victory over Bangladesh in the first Test of the two-match series at Shere Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka. This win has not only given South Africa a 1-0 lead in the series but also propelled them to fourth place in the World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 points table, significantly boosting their chances of qualifying for the final. The Proteas executed their game plan perfectly, combining solid batting efforts with standout bowling, particularly from star pacer Kagiso Rabada, who created history by becoming the fastest South African bowler to reach 300 Test wickets in terms of balls bowled.

Match Overview

The first Test, held from October 21 to October 24, 2024, saw Bangladesh elect to bat after winning the toss. However, they struggled against the fierce South African bowling attack and could only manage a total of 106 runs in their first innings. South Africa responded strongly with a total of 308 runs, taking a lead of 202 runs. Bangladesh showed more fight in their second innings, scoring 307 runs, but it wasn’t enough to set a challenging target for the Proteas, who chased down the modest total of 106 runs in just 22 overs, losing three wickets in the process.

First Innings: South African Bowlers Dominate

Bangladesh’s decision to bat first quickly backfired as they crumbled under the relentless pressure of Kagiso Rabada and Wiaan Mulder. Bangladesh’s top order failed to make any significant impact, with only Mahmudul Hasan Joy showing resistance, scoring 30 runs from 97 balls. The rest of the lineup faltered, with notable contributions coming from Taijul Islam (16) and Mehidy Hasan Miraz (13). South Africa’s bowling attack was spearheaded by Rabada, who took three wickets for 26 runs in his 11 overs. Keshav Maharaj and Wiaan Mulder also chipped in with three wickets each, ensuring Bangladesh was bowled out for 106 runs in 40.1 overs.

Bangladesh First Innings	Runs	Balls	4s	6s
Mahmudul Hasan Joy	30	97	2	1
Taijul Islam	16	31	2	0
Mehidy Hasan Miraz	13	24	3	0
Kagiso Rabada	11	26	–	–
Wiaan Mulder	8	22	–	–

South Africa’s bowlers were clinical in their approach, with Rabada leading the charge. His ability to extract bounce and seam movement from the pitch made life difficult for the Bangladeshi batters, while Maharaj used his flight and guile to pick up crucial middle-order wickets.

South Africa Bowlers (First Innings)	Overs	Maidens	Runs	Wickets	Economy
Kagiso Rabada	11	4	26	3	2.36
Wiaan Mulder	8	4	22	3	2.75
Keshav Maharaj	16.1	4	34	3	2.10
Dane Piedt	5	1	19	1	3.80

South Africa Response

In reply, South Africa’s batting performance was anchored by Kyle Verreynne, whose brilliant 114 off 144 balls was the backbone of their innings. Verreynne’s century, which came at a crucial juncture, was his first in subcontinent conditions and helped the Proteas establish a commanding position. Wiaan Mulder also contributed a valuable 54 runs, while Tony de Zorzi (30) and Ryan Rickelton (27) added stability to the innings. South Africa managed to post 308 runs, securing a lead of 202 runs.

South Africa First Innings	Runs	Balls	4s	6s
Kyle Verreynne	114	144	8	2
Wiaan Mulder	54	112	8	0
Tony de Zorzi	30	72	4	0
Ryan Rickelton	27	49	4	0
Kagiso Rabada	2	5	–	–

Bangladesh’s bowling attack was led by Taijul Islam, who took a five-wicket haul (5/122), while Hasan Mahmud chipped in with three wickets. Despite their efforts, the hosts were unable to restrict the Proteas from building a significant lead.

Bangladesh Bowlers (First Innings)	Overs	Maidens	Runs	Wickets	Economy
Taijul Islam	36	3	122	5	3.38
Hasan Mahmud	19	2	66	3	3.47
Mehidy Hasan Miraz	15.4	0	63	2	4.02
Nayeem Hasan	18	1	49	0	2.72

Bangladesh Second Innings

Facing a daunting deficit, Bangladesh needed a strong performance in their second innings to stay in the game. Mehidy Hasan Miraz led the charge with a gritty 97 off 191 balls, falling just three runs short of a well-deserved century. He was well-supported by Jaker Ali, who scored 58 runs, as the duo stitched a crucial 138-run partnership that helped Bangladesh avoid an innings defeat. Despite their best efforts, Bangladesh was eventually bowled out for 307 runs, setting South Africa a target of 106.

Bangladesh Second Innings	Runs	Balls	4s	6s
Mehidy Hasan Miraz	97	191	10	1
Jaker Ali	58	111	7	0
Mahmudul Hasan Joy	40	92	5	0
Nayeem Hasan	16	29	1	0

Once again, Kagiso Rabada was the star with the ball, taking six wickets for 46 runs to dismantle Bangladesh’s batting order. His exceptional figures ensured that the Proteas remained in the driver’s seat. Keshav Maharaj and Wiaan Mulder provided valuable support, taking three and one wickets, respectively.

South Africa Bowlers (Second Innings)	Overs	Maidens	Runs	Wickets	Economy
Kagiso Rabada	17.5	4	46	6	2.57
Keshav Maharaj	37	10	105	3	2.83
Wiaan Mulder	13	3	40	1	3.07

South Africa Chase: Clinical Finish

Chasing a modest target of 106, South Africa got off to a solid start, with Tony de Zorzi scoring 41 off 52 balls and Aiden Markram adding 20 runs before being bowled by Taijul Islam. Though the Proteas lost a few wickets, Tristan Stubbs played a composed knock of 30 not out, guiding South Africa to victory in just 22 overs. They completed the chase with seven wickets in hand, wrapping up a comprehensive win.

South Africa Second Innings	Runs	Balls	4s	6s
Tony de Zorzi	41	52	7	0
Aiden Markram	20	27	4	0
Tristan Stubbs	30	37	4	1
David Bedingham	12	13	0	1

Taijul Islam was the standout bowler for Bangladesh in the second innings, claiming all three wickets that fell for 43 runs. However, the target was too small to trouble the Proteas, who cruised to a 1-0 lead in the series.

Bangladesh Bowlers (Second Innings)	Overs	Maidens	Runs	Wickets	Economy
Taijul Islam	11	1	43	3	3.90
Hasan Mahmud	5	2	12	0	2.40
Mehidy Hasan Miraz	2	0	13	0	6.50
Nayeem Hasan	2	0	20	0	10.00

Rabada Historic Feat

A key highlight of the match was Kagiso Rabada’s historic achievement, as he became the fastest bowler in terms of balls bowled to take 300 Test wickets. Rabada’s match figures of 9/72 were instrumental in South Africa’s victory. His performance in this Test further solidifies his reputation as one of the premier fast bowlers in world cricket.

Rabada’s consistency and ability to deliver in crucial moments have been pivotal to South Africa’s success, and his contribution in this match was no different. He overtook Morne Morkel to become South Africa’s fifth-highest wicket-taker in international cricket, with 536 wickets in 231 matches.

WTC Points Table: South Africa Move Up

This win was crucial for South Africa in the WTC 2023-25 cycle, as it moved them from sixth to fourth place in the standings, giving them a real chance to qualify for the final. Their percentage points tally rose to 47.62%, putting them ahead of New Zealand and England. If the Proteas can maintain this form and win their upcoming series against Sri Lanka and Pakistan, they could secure a spot in the WTC 2025 final.

WTC 2023-25 Points Table	PCT%
India	68.06
Australia	62.50
Sri Lanka	55.56
South Africa	47.62
New Zealand	44.44
England	43.06
Bangladesh	30.56
Pakistan	25.93
West Indies	18.52

Conclusion

South Africa’s 7-wicket victory over Bangladesh has breathed new life into their WTC 2023-25 campaign. With Kagiso Rabada leading the charge with his brilliant bowling and Kyle Verreynne’s century providing the backbone of their batting, the Proteas have shown they are serious contenders for the WTC final. The focus will now shift to the second Test in Chattogram, where South Africa will aim to wrap up the series and continue their push towards a place in the WTC final.