South Africa crush Bangladesh by an innings and 273 runs to sweep Test series

CHITTAGONG (Agencies): South Africa thrashed Bangladesh by an innings and 273 runs to secure their biggest win and a 2-0 series sweep after enforcing the follow on and dismissing the hosts for 143 on day three of the second Test in Chittagong on Thursday. Seamer Kagiso Rabada decimated Bangladesh with five wickets as the Proteas skittled the hosts for 159 in their first innings to take a huge 416-run lead and they turned up the heat further after asking them to bat again. Bangladesh, who lost the opening game by seven wickets in Dhaka, suffered a familiar collapse and were bowled out in the evening session as Keshav Maharaj claimed 5-59 and fellow spinner Senuran Muthusamy took 4-45. Sixteen Bangladesh wickets fell on the day at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium. South Africa’s stand-in captain Aiden Markram said he was incredibly proud of the team after they eclipsed their innings and 254-run win over Bangladesh in Bloemfontein in 2017.

“Hard work went into it and it’s nice to see the hard work pay off,” Markram said. “We played really good cricket in both Tests especially considering they were in conditions we’re not used to.” Rabada dismissed Najmul Hossain Shanto for nine, Mehidy Hasan Miraz for one and Mahidul Islam Ankon for a duck to finish with 5-37 while Dane Paterson got rid of Mushfiqur Rahim for nought as Bangladesh continued to wobble in the first innings. The hosts, who resumed the day on 38-4, staged a fightback from 48-8 with Mominul Haque making 82 but his dismissal shortly after lunch by Muthusamy ended his 103-run ninth-wicket stand with Taijul Islam. Taijul was unable to frustrate the tourists further, as he became Maharaj’s second victim after a defiant 30. South Africa were even more ruthless in the second innings to seal a comfortable victory in three days despite Shanto’s 36, Ankon’s 29 and a late charge by Hasan Mahmud, who was unbeaten on 38 in fading light.

“They played very good cricket. Very disappointed with the way we played both tests,” said Shanto. “There are a lot of things we need to improve, especially (with our) batting and bowling. We bowled well for a few hours, but not consistently. “As a team we need to improve… both mentally and skills-wise.” The Proteas will look to further boost their chances of reaching the World Test Championship (WTC) final in June 2025, when they take on Sri Lanka and Pakistan in two tests each at home starting in late November. “It (WTC final) is a long way away and there’s a lot of Test cricket to be played,” Markram added. “But to be in the mix, to have an opportunity to be there at the final is what’s driving us. We’ve got to take it session by session and Test match by Test match. “Hopefully, we can get on that flight to Lord’s.”

SCOREBOARD

SOUTH AFRICA 1ST INNINGS 575-6 dec

BANGLADESH 1ST INNINGS 159

BANGLADESH 2ND INNINGS (following on) 143

Umpires: Joel Wilson, Langton Rusere

TV umpire: Nitin Menon

Match referee: Andy Pycroft