Rabada leads the way as South Africa win first Test against Bangladesh

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October 25, 2024
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DHAKA (Agencies): Fast bowler Kagiso Rabada took six second-innings wickets as South Africa won the first Test against Bangladesh by seven wickets on Thursday, wrapping up victory before lunch on the fourth day at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium. South Africa reached their target as they scored 106 for three wickets in the second innings, with 41 coming from opener Tony de Zorzi and an unbeaten 30 runs from Tristan Stubbs seeing them home. Rabada took two wickets early on the fourth day to finish with figures of 6-46, in a match in which he celebrated passing 300 Test wickets, as Bangladesh were dismissed for 307 in their second innings. The home side had fought their way back into the contest on the third day to take an 81-run lead as they were 283-7 overnight but with only three wickets in hand were always under threat as they came out to face the second new ball on Thursday.

South Africa’s pacemen quickly cleaned up the tail, denying middle order batsman Mehidy Hasan Miraz a test ton as he was the last wicket to fall, dismissed for 97, slicing Rabada to Wiaan Mulder at third slip. It left South Africa a modest target to chase with plenty of time in hand and they took 22 overs to ensure the win. Bangladesh’s Taijul Islam took 3-43 to add to his five wickets in the first innings. “It was a really good performance,” said winning captain Aiden Markram. “We put four days of good cricket together and the bowlers set the game up beautifully for us the first day.” Bangladesh, who had won the toss and chose to bat, were steamrolled for 106 on the opening day, allowing South Africa to go on and build a 202-run first-innings lead. “We had a great lead although credit to Bangladesh, who made it tough for us in the second innings,” Markram added. The teams meet in the second Test in Chittagong, starting on Tuesday.

South Africa in confident mood after breakthrough win:

A first Test win in the Indian subcontinent for 10 years has come as a major boost to a youthful South African team, Markram said after they beat Bangladesh by seven wickets on Thursday. “I think it’s special. We’ve a pretty young, or slightly experienced group, so to come to the subcontinent and get a result creates a nice buzz in the change room,” said Markram, who was stand-in skipper for the first test in place of the injured Temba Bavuma. “It gives us a bit of belief that we can compete in conditions where the odds are maybe stacked against us. I’ve been playing now for a couple of years and never won in the subcontinent, so it is a special moment for us. “Having said that, I think the biggest thing you take from it is the belief and the confidence that you actually gain,” Markram told a press conference. The second Test in Chittagong starts on Tuesday and South Africa have an eye on a potential place in the World Test Championship decider in London next year. Thursday’s win moved them up to fourth place in the table and with home series to come against Sri Lanka and Pakistan, they have strengthened their chances of qualifying for the final at Lord’s. “A lot of the game is played from a confidence and a belief and from a mental side of things, so I think that this win will help a lot of us moving forward. We will see if we can put back-to-back performances together, because that’s ultimately what makes a really good team,” Markram said.

SCOREBOARD

BANGLADESH 1ST INNINGS 106

SOUTH AFRICA 1ST INNINGS 308

BANGLADESH 2ND INNINGS 307

SOUTH AFRICA 2ND INNINGS (target 106 runs)

Tony de Zorzi c Hasan b Taijul 41

Aiden Markram b Taijul 20

Tristan Stubbs not out 30

David Bedingham c Litton b Taijul 12

Ryan Rickelton not out 1

EXTRAS (LB 2) 2

TOTAL (22 overs) 106-3