South Africa VS Bangladesh Test Series
1st Test Played at Durban (31 March-4 April 2022)
Brief Score Card at Stumps Day Two
South Africa 1st Innings 367 All Out (Temba Bavuma 93, Dean Elgar 67, Simon Harmer 38*, Khaled Ahmed 4/92, Mehedy Hasan Miraj 4/94, Ebadat Hossain (2/86)
Bangladesh 1st Innings 94/4 (Mahmudul Hasan Joy 44*, Nazmul Hossain Shanto 38, Simon Harmer 4/42)
Bangladesh losing 4 wickets for 98 runs responding to South Africa’s first innings score of 367 all out had its back to wall at stumps of day two at Durban.
Possibly for wrong strategy, poor decision after winning the toss against depleted home team Bangladesh is going to lose a golden opportunity. 8 front line players almost the entire pace attack and some key batsmen are now in India for IPL2022. Bangladesh did not have Shakib Al Hasan and Tamim Iqbal. Shoriful Islam was also not match fit. Yet on paper and in consideration of current form there was nothing wrong in taking Bangladesh as favorite for the series. Off course there is still a long way to go in this test. Yet at current stage the planning of Bangladesh team management appears questionable. Also Bangladesh losing all four wickets against a second string off spinner Simon Harmer raised few eyebrows.
Durban is not a venue where South Africa has sweet memories. It lost more than winning on the venue traditionally known for pacey, bouncy wicket. It was anticipated that with Rabada, Nortje and Ngidi unavailable South Africa would not risk exposing their weakened batting line up against red hot Taskin and Ebadat. The wicket had grass, the sky was cloudy when the toss was done. Bangladesh should have opted to bat as it appeared as the ball grew softer batting over the first few sessions were the best time. Bangladesh in absence of Shakib should have included front line test spinner Taijul even playing with 7 batsmen. On this wicket against weakened South African batting Taijul could be match-winner.
Bangladesh bowled poorly on day one. All three pacers Taskin, Ebadat and Khaled bowled too short and on or outside the leg stump letting Deal Elger (67) and Sarel Erwee (41) setting a good foundation of South African Innings. Litton missed and opportunity of the bowling of Miraj and Bangladesh also missed and opportunity of seeking DRS. Yet Khaled, Ebadat and Miraj taking one wicket each and Miraj with a great run out could keep South Africa restricted to 234/4 at stumps on day two. Bangladesh bowled and fielded much better on second morning. Yet Temba Bavuma alone kept the fight. His 93 and impressive Harmer 38* not out from Harmer took South Africa to a comfortable first innings score of 367 all out. Khaled (4/92) and Miraj (4/94) were main destroyer.
We are not sure what type of preparation Shadman, Mominul had at Gary Kirsten academy before the series. They lost wicket to Harmer playing like novices. So did experienced Mushfique. Rookie Mahmudul Joy (44*) looked solid. Nazmul Shanto (38) was also batting well. But all four fell to off spinner Harmer . There can not be any excuse of Bangladesh top order melting against off spin. Bangladesh still need 69 runs for avoiding following on. The wicket has developed some cracks with some balls not behaving. Batting on this wicket would grow increasingly difficult. With Joy there and Litton, Yasir and Miraj still to come Bangladesh must apply to reach 300 plus even to squeeze out something from the match. It would be a tall order.
BDST: 1204 HRS, APR 02, 2022
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