Cricket: Bangladesh stumble to 38-4 in reply to mammoth South Africa total

Mulder joins run-fest with ton as South Africa declare at 575-6

By Reuters

Published: Wed 30 Oct 2024, 3:38 PM

Last updated: Wed 30 Oct 2024, 3:50 PM

Bangladesh lost four wickets in their first seven overs in a hapless reply to South Africa's mammoth first innings of 575-6 at stumps Wednesday on day two of the second and final Test in Chattogram.

The hosts were 38-4 when bad light forced an early end to play, with Mominul Haque (six) and Najmul Hossain Shanto (four) resuming on Thursday.

Bangladesh trail by 537 runs after a commanding performance by the visitors that gifted maiden Test centuries to three batsmen including Tony de Zorzi, who was dismissed before lunch on 177.

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Kagiso Rabada struck in the first over after the change, cutting off Shadman Islam for a duck when the left-hander edged a delivery going down the leg side.

Zakir Hasan also edged to the wicketkeeper playing a Rabada length ball outside off, departing for two.

Mahmudul Hasan Joy top-scored with 10 before falling to Dane Paterson while driving an outside-off delivery but managed only a thick edge to Aiden Markram at the second slip.

Hasan Mahmud came early as an intended nightwatchman but was fooled by sharp turn from Keshav Maharaj in the spinner's first over.

South Africa's total was their second-highest against Bangladesh behind 583-7 at the same venue in 2008.

Wiaan Mulder (105 not out) joined De Zorzi and Tristan Stubbs (106) to make his maiden hundred on a pitch offering little help to the bowlers.

Senuran Muthusamy was unbeaten at the declaration for 68 off 75 balls with five fours and two sixes, his Test best.

Ryan Rickelton was the only batsman to fall in the second session when he edged a Nahid Rana delivery shaping away from his body to the wicketkeeper, departing for 12.

Left-arm spinner Taijul Islam pegged back the visitors in the morning with three wickets in three overs, claiming his second five-wicket haul of the series.

He toppled David Bedingham's leg stump to end a 116-run stand for the third wicket with De Zorzi.

Bedingham departed after a brisk 59 off 78 balls that contained two fours and four sixes.

His wicket prompted a mini-collapse as De Zorzi swiped across the line and was trapped lbw by Taijul to leave South Africa 391-4.

In all, the opener smashed four sixes and 12 fours in his 269-ball knock.

South Africa won the opening Test inside four days with fast bowler Rabada taking 6-46 in the second innings.

Bangladesh have played 24 Tests in Chattogram but won only two with seven drawn.

Earlier, Mulder endured nervy moments and dived into the crease to avoid being run out before his first century in tests, but he got there in the next over with a big six down the ground off spinner Taijul Islam and raised his arms aloft.

With De Zorzi and Tristan Stubbs also getting their maiden centuries, it marked only the second time in test history that three batsmen had done so in the same innings.

Gerry Gomez, Robert Christiani and Clyde Walcott were the first trio, when the West Indies faced India in 1948.

After South Africa's stand-in captain Aiden Markram called time on their innings, Kagiso Rabada gave them the ideal start by removing Shadman Islam for a duck and Zakir Hasan for two before Mahmudul Hasan Joy fell to Dane Paterson for 10.

Nightwatchman Hasan Mahmud was castled by Keshav Maharaj for three, leaving Bangladesh in deep trouble.

Earlier, De Zorzi picked up from where he left off after notching up his century on Tuesday, as South Africa accumulated runs with ease having resumed at 307-2 on a batting-friendly track at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium.

He reached his 150 with a lofted boundary off Taijul and followed it up with another immediately, as the hosts came under pressure early on another hot, humid day on the southeastern coast of Bangladesh.

Bedingham was equally aggressive at the other end and hit a quick-fire 59 but was bowled out by Taijul, who then trapped De Zorzi lbw and removed Kyle Verreynne for a duck shortly before lunch to claim his 14th five-wicket haul.

It was expensive, however, as he finished with 5-198.

Senuran Muthusamy made an unbeaten 68 as he combined well with Mulder in another 100-run stand in the afternoon session and help the Proteas go past 500 runs in tests for the first time since 2020.

South Africa are 1-0 up in the two-match series after their seven-wicket victory in Dhaka.