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Rabada Leads South Africa to Their First Test Victory in Asia Since 2014
Rabada Leads South Africa to Their First Test Victory in Asia Since 2014
Mehidy Hasan Miraz's fighting 97 went in vain as South Africa clinched a 7-wicket win.
On the World Championship table, South Africa has secured four number place as they have got a seven-wicket win against Bangladesh in Mirpur. They had to complete a target of 106 runs with 22 overs so, that they could win before lunch as the Kagiso Rabada completed the match by taking off nine wickets.
This was their first Test win in the subcontinent in 15 matches, going back ten years to when they defeated Sri Lanka in Galle in 2014.
South Africa played with aggression and determination, hitting 15 fours and two sixes while scoring just under five runs per over. Although they lost three of their top four batters, the remaining players handled the unfamiliar pitch well. New No. 3 batter, Tristan Stubbs, who scored 30 not out, showed great skill in adapting to the situation.
With a small total to defend, Bangladesh started their bowling with Hasan Mahmud, their only fast bowler, and Taijul Islam, who did well in the first innings as a left-arm spinner. His first ball was a full toss, and Aiden Markram hit it hard through extra cover, starting to take down Taijul. A few balls later, Markram drove another ball from Taijul through the covers, and in the next over, Tony de Zorzi hit two boundaries off him.
Hasan was more dangerous at the start and managed to get an edge from de Zorzi, but it fell short of a second slip. Taijul thought he had got Markram out when he was given lbw in the eighth over while on 13 runs. Markram missed a sweep shot and was hit on the pads, but he immediately reviewed the decision, and replays showed he had edged the ball.
South Africa wasn’t shaken by this and de Zorzi ended the over by sweeping a ball from Taijul for four runs. The opening pair put on 42 runs in just 10 overs before Taijul finally got a breakthrough, bowling Markram out, leaving South Africa still needing 65 runs.
De Zorzi and Stubbs put together a partnership of 29 runs off 32 balls and looked comfortable. However, de Zorzi got a bit overconfident and tried to hit Taijul for a big shot, but instead got caught by Hasan at long-on. Despite this, Stubbs continued scoring, making 10 runs off the rest of the over.
Bedingham fell to a good delivery from Taijul that spun away and took his edge, leaving South Africa just nine runs away from victory. Taijul ended the match with figures of 8 for 165, having taken five wickets in the first innings.
Earlier, South Africa bowled Bangladesh out in just 4.5 overs, keeping their target just above 100 runs. Bangladesh's lower-middle order had pushed the match into the fourth day, and by the evening of the third day, they had a lead of 81 runs. South Africa used spinners in low light but switched to the second new ball on the fourth morning, which had an immediate effect.
Rabada took the new ball and quickly dismissed Nayeem Hasan with his third delivery, achieving his 15th Test five-wicket haul and also marking his 300th wicket.
Mehidy scored some runs and reached the 90s with a boundary off Wiaan Mulder, but Rabada kept testing him. Mehidy was trying to reach his century when he attempted to ramp Rabada but ended up giving a catch to slip. Rabada finished with 6 for 46. Although Bangladesh had added 24 runs to their overnight score, it wasn’t enough for a strong target.
South Africa has played Tests in Bangladesh only twice in the last 16 years, and both matches in the 2015 series were washed out. Their last Test win in Bangladesh was in 2008, when they won both games by an inning. The second match of this series will take place next Tuesday in Chattogram. After that, South Africa has four home Tests lined up, two each against Sri Lanka and Pakistan. If they win at least four of their remaining five matches, they could have a good shot at reaching the WTC final.
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