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DAY 3: Record-breaking Proteas clean up Bangladesh in under three days

xtra31 October 2024 11:28| © MWP
By:Ross Roche
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A brilliant performance from the Proteas saw them absolutely dominate Bangladesh to clinch a huge innings and 273 run win in under three days in the second test at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram on Thursday.

The impressive result was the Proteas biggest innings win ever in test cricket and saw them secure a superb two-nil clean sweep of the series, while it is also their third straight test win, after they triumphed one-nil in their two-test series in West Indies a few months ago.

In the match the Proteas batted first and powered their way to a monster first innings score of 575/6, lead by three maiden test centuries to Tony de Zorzi, Tristan Stubbs and Wiaan Mulder.

They declared towards the end of the second day, before reducing Bangladesh to 38/4 at stumps, and then to 48/8 early on day three, before the hosts produced a lower order fight back to eventually be bowled all out for 159 in their first innings after lunch.

The Proteas immediately triggered the follow-on and another top bowling effort, led by the spinners, saw Bangladesh all out for 143 in their second innings just before the close of play.

"I am incredibly proud. Hard work went into it and it was good to see the hard work pay off. We played some really good cricket, considering the conditions we are not used to,” said Proteas captain Aiden Markram.

“That was special (the three maiden test centurions). The three of them got stuck in when it was tough to score at times and to get the team in a strong position was immense.

“The bowlers worked really well together. Taking wickets with the new ball, no matter where you play is important. KG (Rabada) was special, then others made an impact when given their chance. So overall, all three facets of the game were fantastic and I am really proud.”

Over the two Bangladesh innings three bowlers dominated, with pace spearhead Kagiso Rabada picking up 5/37 in the first innings, while Dane Paterson, 2/31, and Keshav Maharaj, 2/57, backed him up.

The second innings was then all about the spinners as Maharaj picked up 5/59 and Senuran Muthusamy 4/45.

Earlier after tea Bangladesh in big trouble on 43/4 in their follow-on innings, and it didn’t take the Proteas long to get their next wicket as in the second over after the break Muthusamy had Mushfiqur Rahim (2) out LBW after a successful review as they slipped to 47/5.

Captain Najmul Shanto (36) and Mehidy Hasan Miraz (6) slightly stemmed the flow of wickets with a 23-run sixth wicket stand.

But both then fell in quick succession, Miraz getting a top edge to a Maharaj ball that was topped up, giving Tristan Stubbs an easy catch at backward square leg, while Shanto inside edged Muthusamy onto his own pad and to Tony de Zorzi at leg slip as they fell to 78/7.

Taijul Islam (1), who made a gritty 30 in the first innings, couldn’t repeat the trick as he hit Mahraj straight to Rabada at mid-on leaving them on 94/8.

Mahidul Islam (29) who was given out LBW for a first ball duck but survived on review, and Hasan Mahmud, 38no off 30 balls (1x4; 4x6), thenshared in an entertaining 37-run ninth wicket stand, with both batters having a go at the spinners.

Islam finally mishit one from Maharaj to Rabada at long-off, and last man Nahid Rana popped an easy catch to David Bedingham to mid-off to give Maharaj his fifth of the innings and end the game.

In the post lunch session Bangladesh resumed their first innings on 137/8, with Mominul Haque, 82 off 112 balls (8x4; 2x6) and Taijul Islam (30) extending their impressive ninth wicket partnership to 103-runs.

But Muthusamy finally made the breakthrough as he pinned Haque in front LBW, while Islam followed a few overs later, popping a return catch back to Maharaj to end their innings.

SLIGHTLY BETTER START

Bangladesh’s second innings then got off to a better start than their first, but opener Shadman Islam (6) was eventually first to fall as he edged Paterson to keeper Kyle Verreynne, with the score 15/1.

Muthusamy then had Mahmudul Hasan Joy (11) edging to captain Aiden Markram who took a good low catch at first slip, followed by Haque hitting Maharaj straight to Muthusamy, who was the only fielder on the leg side boundary, to fall for a second ball duck as they slipped to 29/3.

With the final ball before tea Zakar Hasan (7) came down the wicket at Muthusamy, missed the ball and was stumped by Verreynne, to leave the hosts in huge strife once again.

At the start of the day Bangladesh resumed on 38/4, and it only took until the third over of the day for Rabada to get the ball rolling as he had Shanto (9) softly fending a catch to Verreynne.

In the next over Paterson had Rahim popping an easy catch to Tony de Zorzi at square leg, followed by a Rabada double in the following over as he had Miraz (1) caught behind and Mahidul Islam trapped LBW for a second ball duck as the hosts crashed to 48/8.

However Haque, who had watched all of the carnage from the other end, finally found a willing partner in Taijul Islam and they bravely fought to lunch with an unbeaten 89-run ninth wicket stand.

BANGLADESH: Shadman Islam, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Najmul Hossain Shanto (capt), Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Zakir Hasan, Mahidul Islam (wk), Nahid Rana, Taijul Islam, Hasan Mahmud

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

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