South Africa strike twice as Bangladesh stumble despite Mushfiqur fifty

By Chris On Apr 10, 2022

Lunch Bangladesh 210 for 7 (Mushfiqur 51, Tamim 47, Yasir 46, Mulder 3-25, Olivier 2-39) trail South Africa 453 by 243 runs

Bangladesh might have squandered a decent position when Mushfiqur Rahim played an unnecessary reverse sweep to fall just nine balls before the lunch interval on the third day of the second Test, in Gqeberha. After the start of play was delayed by 20 minutes because of rain, Bangladesh, overnight a shaky 139 for 5, were on their way to recovery but went to the break still 44 44 runs away from avoiding the follow-on with three wickets in hand.

Keshav Maharaj and Simon Harmer took one wicket each in the morning session on a surface that is taking prodigious turn. While Maharaj took a bit of time to hit his straps, Harmer removed Mushfiqur with just his third delivery of the morning.

The day, however, started well for Bangladesh as they kept the South African bowlers at bay for a major part. Yasir Ali began by hitting Lizaad Williams for three successive fours off the first three deliveries. After the first one went through the slip cordon, Yasir hit the next two either side of point. He struck two more in the next couple of overs, before Mushfiqur cut Duanne Olivier for his first four of the day.

Both batters struck two more fours in the next two overs, but once South Africa dried up the boundaries, nerves started showing in the Bangladesh ranks.

Yasir’s wicket came ten overs after he had hit his last boundary. He toe-ended the ball to give Maharaj a low return catch just one delivery after South Africa had burnt their last review. But Bangladesh’s situation would get worse some 8.3 overs later when Mushfiqur missed a reverse sweep against Harmer, soon after reaching his half-century.

Bangladesh had got into trouble on the second afternoon, too, when Wiaan Mulder got his first three wickets with incoming deliveries from around the wicket to left-handers. Tamim Iqbal, Najmul Hossain Shanto and Mominul Haque all fell lbw to the medium-pacer who had figures of 5-3-5-3 at one stage.

It caused Bangladesh to slip from 82 for 1 to 122 for 5 in less than an hour. Tamim and Najmul had added 79 runs for the second wicket to make up for losing Mahmudul Hasan Joy in the first over. Tamim made 47 and Najmul 33, but Mominul continued his poor run in the Test series with another low score.

Things took a turn for the worse when Olivier, who had earlier removed Mahmudul, got one to nip through Litton Das’ defence, bowling him for 11. Mushfiqur and Yasir batted safely for the last eight overs of the day, but it was a stark contrast to how South Africa batted earlier on the second day.

Earlier on the second day, Maharaj slammed a career-best 84, adding 80 runs for the seventh wicket with Mulder. And South Africa went from a middling 278 for 5 to a formidable 453 to give their bowlers more than a chance to have a go at the Bangladesh batters.

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