Miraz leads fightback after Rabada breakthrough

Mehidy Hasan Miraz struck a fighting unbeaten half-century, his ninth in tests, to counter an early breakthrough by Kagiso Rabada on the third morning of the first test between Bangladesh and South Africa in Mirpur on Wednesday.

At lunch, Bangladesh had reached 201 for six in their second innings, just one run shy of making South Africa bat again, with Miraz on 55 in 107 balls and his partner, debutant Jaker Ali, on 30. So far they have batted quite superbly to add 89 in 172 balls, a Bangladesh record for the seventh wicket against South Africa.

The Proteas made a great start to the session when Rabada claimed the wickets of both overnight batters, Mahmudul Hasan Joy and Mushfiqur Rahim, in the space of three balls in his second over.

First Mahmudul (40 in 92 balls) flashed at a wide delivery he should have left alone, edging a catch into David Bedingham’s midriff at second slip. Two balls later Rabada speared one through Mushfiqur Rahim’s (33) defence, shattering his stumps, a very similar scenario to his dismissal in the first innings.

Keshav Maharaj then joined the party six runs later when the left-arm spinner got one to turn sharply away from Litton Das who got a scratch as he pushed forward. Skipper Aiden Markram opted at the last minute to review the umpire’s not-out decision, and was proved correct.

After starting the day on 101 for three, Bangladesh were now teetering on 112 for six – still 90 runs in arrears – and South Africa could see victory beckoning.

But Miraz is a fighter and, together with Ali, he not only defied the South African bowlers, but actively took the fight to them. Offspinner Dane Piedt was the main source of runs with Miraz straight-driving him for six and fleecing him regularly for runs as the veteran, who lacked consistent control, went for 61 in 11 overs.

In general, Miraz and Ali mixed obdurate defence with attacking strokes, showing good shot selection as Bangladesh ended the session with some hope of setting the Proteas some kind of target in the fourth innings.

Rabada and Maharaj, South Africa’s two main strike bowlers, finished the session with figures of 4-35 in 15 overs and 2-70 in 26 overs respectively.

BANGLADESH: Shadman Islam, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Najmul Hossain Shanto (capt), Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Litton Das (wk), Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Jaker Ali, Nayeem Hasan, Taijul Islam, Hasan Mahmud

SOUTH AFRICA: Aiden Markram (capt), Tony de Zorzi, Tristan Stubbs, David Bedingham, Ryan Rickelton, Matthew Breetzke, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Wiaan Mulder, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Dane Piedt