Left-arm spinner Taijul Islam claimed 5-49 to help Bangladesh stay in the contest despite a horrible batting show on Day 1 of the first cricket Test against South Africa at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Monday.
On an event-filled day, when 16 wickets fell, South Africa though kept its nose ahead, leading Bangladesh by 34 runs. But with the pitch showing sign of deteriorating, Bangladesh sniffed a chance to keep South Africa’s lead at a tolerable scale.
Things looked ominous when Bangladesh were bowled out for just 106 in its first innings in little less than three hours after captain Shanto won the toss and opted to bat first.
Taijul heroic helped them reduce South Africa to 140-6 before bad light forced early stumps.
Hasan Mahmud took 1-31 and gave the side a breakthrough in the first over when he rattled the stump of South Africa’s stand-in captain Aiden Markram who made 6.
Tony de Zorzi and Tristan Stubbs then shared 44-run for the second wicket as South Africa looked to tighten the grip.
Taijul intervened by breaking through with the wicket of the latter.
Stubbs who looked comfortable in his brief stay was unsettled by a delivery that turned sharply past him. He sent the ball across the ropes for four times to hit 23 off 27.
Taijul then baffled David Bedingham and Tony de Zorzi who top-scored with 30, with extra bounce before taking the wicket of Matthew Breetzke for his 200th wicket.
He also dismissed Ryan Rickelton who looked comfortable but edged when a delivery skidded after landing on the rough patch. Rickelton scored 27.
Verreynne and Mulder saw off the day after sharing 32-run for the unbeaten seventh wicket stand.
But the rough patch that was visible in the pitch is believed to help the Bangladesh’s three-pronged spin attack.
Earlier, the South African fast bowlers utilized the early moisture of the pitch to good effect to leave the hosts in a troublesome situation.
Wiaan Mulder claimed 3-22 and Kagiso Rabada returned figures of 3-26 as the visitors sliced through Bangladesh batting line up with such ease that hardly anyone could ponder ahead of the Test. They were well backed up by left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj who also took three wickets.
Mulder took the first three wickets in each of his first three overs to put Bangladesh in early trouble and then there was no respite for them.
The rot began with the dismissal of Shadman Islam who played a needless shot against a delivery that moved away to edge to the second slip for a duck.
Mominul Haque (4) nicked a delivery behind the wicket while Shanto flicked straight to short mid-off after scoring 7, leaving Bangladesh at precarious 21-3.
Rabada got in to act, rattling the stump of veteran Mushfiqur Rahim (11) for his 300th wicket in Test cricket. In doing so, he became the sixth South African bowler to achieve the feat.
The situation got worsened for the hosts, when Rabada swung a delivery to get the better of Liton Das, caught at gully for 1.
On the stroke of lunch, left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj joined the party, trapping Mehidy Hasan Miraz leg-before for 13.
Opener Mahmudul Hasan, who battled throughout the morning session, was the first victim in the post-lunch session.
He made team-best 30 off 97 with two fours and one six before Dane Piedt bowled him out for his only wicket in the innings.
Maharaj then had debutant Jaker Ali Anik stumped for 2 as Bangladesh were reduced to 76-8 and were in danger of being all out below 100.
Taijul Islam’s 16 runs helped them go past 100 but Maharaj and Rabada shared the last two wickets to ensure South Africa would bowl Bangladesh out cheaply.
