South Africa vs Bangladesh: Proteas Win With 106 Runs From Rabada. The South Africa cricket team has been presented with a straightforward task in the first Test against Bangladesh in Mirpur—chase down 106 runs for victory. This target was set after a brilliant bowling performance by Kagiso Rabada, who took six wickets for just 46 runs, denying Bangladesh’s Mehidy Hasan Miraz his second Test century. South Africa will now look to their batsmen to chase down the target and secure a 1-0 lead in the series. Here’s an in-depth look at the match so far and the key performances that have set up this intriguing final chase.
Bangladesh Fightback and Rabada Heroics
The first four days of the Test saw competitive cricket between two sides trying to outplay each other on a challenging surface at the Sher-e-Bangla Stadium. After South Africa bowled Bangladesh out for 106 in their first innings, they replied with a solid 308, securing a 202-run lead. Bangladesh, led by Mehidy Hasan Miraz’s gritty 97, fought back hard in their second innings but were eventually bowled out for 307. This left South Africa needing 106 runs to win the Test.
Bangladesh, having fought valiantly with the bat, added only 24 runs to their overnight score of 283/7 on the morning of day four. South Africa quickly wrapped up their tail, thanks to the relentless efforts of Rabada and Keshav Maharaj.
Kagiso Rabada was the standout performer, claiming his 15th five-wicket haul in Tests and, in the process, becoming the fastest South African fast bowler to reach 300 Test wickets. His efforts on the final morning ensured Bangladesh couldn’t build on their fighting score from day three.
The Final Three Wickets
Bangladesh resumed on day four with Mehidy Hasan Miraz and the lower-order batsmen tasked with setting South Africa a tricky target. However, the Proteas struck early as Rabada, continuing from where he left off the previous day, claimed his fifth wicket of the innings. His third ball of the day trapped Nayeem Hasan on the front pad, giving Rabada another breakthrough and ensuring Bangladesh was on the back foot.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who had been the cornerstone of Bangladesh’s resistance, was desperately inching towards his century. On 97, he attempted to play an aggressive stroke, trying to ramp Rabada, but the South African quick deceived him with his length. The ball caught the edge, and Tony de Zorzi made no mistake in the slip cordon, bringing an end to Mehidy’s brilliant innings. Rabada ended the innings with figures of 6-46, a testament to his ability to deliver when his team needed him most.
Bangladesh, despite the valiant effort from Mehidy Hasan Miraz and a few contributions from Jaker Ali (40) and Taijul Islam, could only manage 307, leaving South Africa a target of 106 runs to chase.
| Bangladesh Batting (2nd Innings) | Runs | Balls | Dismissal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mehidy Hasan Miraz | 97 | 165 | Caught De Zorzi b Rabada |
| Jaker Ali | 40 | 85 | Bowled Maharaj |
| Taijul Islam | 22 | 37 | Caught Slip b Rabada |
| Nayeem Hasan | 6 | 15 | LBW b Rabada |
| Bangladesh Team Total | 307 | All Out |
Bangladesh Batting Resilience
Mehidy Hasan Miraz was Bangladesh’s star performer with the bat, playing an outstanding innings under pressure. His 97-run knock included several boundaries, and he showed the temperament required to face the likes of Rabada and Maharaj. Although his century bid fell short by three runs, his contribution was invaluable in dragging Bangladesh to a respectable total, giving them a slim chance to defend.
Jaker Ali, with a crucial 40, also showed resistance in the middle order. His partnership with Mehidy was the backbone of Bangladesh’s second innings, but once Jaker was bowled by Keshav Maharaj, the lower order couldn’t provide the necessary support. The hosts were always under pressure, especially with Rabada on fire, and they eventually succumbed to South Africa’s pace and spin attack.
Taijul Islam briefly added to the total, but his dismissal at second slip by Wiaan Mulder further hampered Bangladesh’s efforts. They would have ideally liked to set a target of over 120, but Rabada’s brilliance ensured that they fell just short of that psychological barrier.
South Africa Bowling Prowess
South Africa’s bowling attack, led by Kagiso Rabada, put in a near-perfect performance. Rabada’s 6-46 in the second innings, combined with his milestone of 300 Test wickets, was the highlight. He was well-supported by Keshav Maharaj, who bowled tirelessly on a surface that had something for the spinners as well. Maharaj’s 3-105 was a crucial part of the bowling effort, helping to put pressure on Bangladesh throughout their second innings.
South Africa’s decision to not take the new ball on day three, despite bad light cutting the play short, was a gamble that paid off. They opted to use spin with the old ball, which kept Bangladesh in check and prevented them from running away with the game.
Rabada‘s performance, however, is what will be remembered most from this Test. His ability to move the ball both ways, seam it off the surface, and extract bounce from a pitch that was deteriorating fast made life difficult for Bangladesh’s batsmen. His sixth five-wicket haul in Tests is yet another reminder of why he is one of the premier fast bowlers in the world today.
| South Africa Bowling | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kagiso Rabada | 20 | 6 | 46 | 6 |
| Keshav Maharaj | 30.4 | 4 | 105 | 3 |
| Wiaan Mulder | 18 | 1 | 69 | 1 |
South Africa Simple Chase: 106 Runs to Win
With only 106 runs needed to win, South Africa has been placed in a commanding position. While Bangladesh will take solace in having crossed the 100-run mark for their lead, the target is small enough to be comfortably chased on a pitch that, though challenging, is still playable for batsmen with good technique.
The Proteas’ openers, Aiden Markram and Tony de Zorzi, will be keen to ensure that there are no unnecessary hiccups. Bangladesh will be hoping for early wickets, especially from Shoriful Islam and Taijul Islam, but the odds are firmly in South Africa’s favor.
Conclusion
This Test will be remembered for Kagiso Rabada’s incredible bowling performance. His ability to consistently produce match-winning spells is what sets him apart from the rest. Denying Mehidy Hasan Miraz his century was the final twist in a gripping match, and now South Africa looks poised to take a 1-0 lead in the series.
