Tough Day 1 for batters | 1st Test | South Africa vs Bangladesh

It was a tough day for the batters, as South Africa ended Day 1 of the 1st Test with a lead of 34 against Bangladesh.

The Proteas lost the toss and were asked to bowl first in Mirpur.

Bangladesh would soon regret that decision, as the visitors’ two seamers reduced them to 40-4 in 14 overs. 

Wiaan Mulder picked up 3 crucial wickets early on. He dismissed Shadman Islam in the 2nd over, Mominul Haque in the 4th over and Najmul Hossain Shanto in the 6th over. 

Kagiso Rabada then brought up his 300th Test wicket with a beautiful delivery, that dissected Mushfiqur Rahim, piercing the gap between bat and pad and crashing into the wickets. 

He achieved the milestone with the fewest balls bowled to join an illustrious list.

11817 – Kagiso Rabada (SA)*
12602 – Waqar Younis (PAK)
12622 – Dale Styen (SA)
13690 – Allan Donald (SA)

He also became the 3rd fastest South African to reach the milestone in matches played. 

Rabada achieved the milestone in his 65th Test match, while Dale Steyn and Allan Donald reached it in their 61st and 63rd Tests respectively.

He took his second of the match in the 20th over, reducing Bangladesh to 45-5 with the wicket of Liton Das who edged the ball to a diving Triston Stubbs at gully. 

Keshav Maharaj then joined the party by trapping Mehidy Hasan Miraz lbw on the first ball of the 27th over. Lunch was called with Bangladesh on 60-6.

After lunch, it was more of the same, with spin dominating. 

Dane Piedt removed Bangladesh opener Mahmudul Hasan Joy for 30 on the last ball of the 30th over, and three balls later, Maharaj dismissed Jaker Ali. Bangladesh were now on 76-8. 

Shortly after the hosts passed the 100-run mark, Rabada picked up his 3rd wicket by finding the leading edge of Nayeem Hasan which Mulder took in the slips. 

Maharaj wrapped up the innings to bowl Bangladesh out to 106. This is the 2nd lowest total at Mirpur.

Mulder ended with 3-22, Rabada with 3-26, Maharaj with 3-34 and Piedt with 1-19. 

Bangladesh got the quick start with the ball that they desired. They knocked over Aiden Markram for 6. It was a beautiful delivery by Hasan Mahmud which angled in from 5th stump and crashed into the middle stump.

Stubbs worked hard for his 23, but he found himself stuck in his crease and edged Taijul to slip. South Africa were 50-2 after 11.3 overs.

He struck again after tea, this time finding the top Edge of David Bedingham, as SA were reduced to 72-3. SA took themselves to 99-3 but just as a good partnership was forming, Taijul got two quick wickets – De Zorzi for 30 and Breetzke for a duck on debut.

This brought 200 wickets for the left-arm spinner.

Ryan Rickelton got a boundary through the off side off the back foot to bring the scores level at 106-5 after 30 overs.

Although the Proteas went into the lead Rickelton was bowled by Taijul for 27 to bring up a five-for, SA was now reduced to 108-6.

Kyle Verreynne (18) and Wiaan Mulder (17), took SA to 140-6 and a lead of 34.

Scorecard