South Africa VS Bangladesh Test Series
1st Test Played at Durban (31 March-4 April 2022)
Brief Score Card at Stumps Day four
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) and 2nd Innings 204 All Out (Dean Elger 64, Ryan 39*, Keegan Peterson 36, Ebadat Hossain 3/40, Mehedy H Miraj 3/85)
Bangladesh 1st Innings 298 All Out (Mahmudul Hasan Joy 137, Litton K Das 41 Nazmul Hossain Shanto 38, Mehedy Hasan Miraj 29, Yasir Ali 22, Simon Harmer 4/103, Lizaad Williams 3/54) and Bangladesh 2nd Innings 11/3 in 6 overs (Nazmul H Shanto 5*, K Maharaj 2/7, Simon Harmer1/4), need 263 runs to win.
Weather permitting an exciting day five waits for all at Kngsmead, Darban as home team needs 7 wickets and tourist need another 263 for winning the first test.
Wicket is turning and gripping, odd balls bouncing from length. or keeping low Bangladesh top order again melted. Set to score 274 they succumbed to twin Protean spinners Keshab Maharaj (2/7) and Simon Harmer1 /4) I, 11/3 n 6 overs. Only nature can come on the way. Otherwise most likely the test will find a winner around one hour after tea. With Shanto and Mushfique at the wicket, Litton, Yasir and Miraj to come all is not yet lost for Bangladesh. But it will require high intensity quality batting for Bangladesh to tide over the Protean waves. History would be rewritten if that happens.
Bangladesh with Taskin not fully fit bowled well within their limits on day four. Khaled, Ebadat and Miraj created few chances and many half chances. Could not use DRS smartly. Yet restricting South Africa to 204 was not a mere achievement. But with 69 runs important lead that Bangladesh conceded in the first innings the target growing to 274 appeared at least 30 -40 runs too much. Yet the situation required sensible batting from top order. Shadman and Mominul fell for their own follies. Joy got a ball that turned sharply rattling his furniture through the gate. At 11/3 with 263 runs behind Bangladesh was looking down the barrel at stumps of day four.
Earlier on the day Bangladesh was handicapped with premiere bowler Taskin Ahmed suffering from shoulder pain. Yet Khaled and Miraj teased Elger and Erwee bowling admirably. Bangladesh was bit unlucky with marginal calls going against them. Yet we must admire Elgar (64) and Peterson (36) for their applications. Ebadat (3/40) and Meeraj (3/85) constantly teased Proteans. At some stage Taskin was also risked to bowl. He also grabbed 2/24. On a turning and gripping wicket Bangladesh missed their ace spinner Taijul Islam. His presence could have restricted South African scores within limit in both the innings.
Anyway, Bangladesh required playing only 6 overs till stump on day four. Shadman, Joy and Mominul succumbed to double spin attack of Maharaj and Harmer. Bangladesh top order lacked skill and technique. Shadman failing in both innings proved as pedestrian. Experienced Mominul going back to a good length ball did not do justice to his reputation. Joy kept his gate between bat and pad wide open.
Tomorrow is another day. If the weather does not interfere may witness a fascinating contest of bat and ball. Mushfique, Litton and Shanto plays spin well. Their first task would be staying till lunch without losing more than one wicket. From that position they can plan the innings. There is no chance of match ending in a draw. Home team is hot favorite. But tourists are not yet out of the match. Not batting first, not having Taijul in the team should not considered an issue. Bangladesh top order batting poorly in the first and the second innings was the main reason for the position where the tigers were at stumps on day four. Hope Mushfique would bat like the nucleus and Litton would come up in his savior role. Yasir and Miraj can also chip in. Reaching the moon is not impossible but not easy either.
BDST: 1133 HRS, APR 04, 2022
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