Mountain to climb as Tigers crumble
It was a disappointing day for Bangladesh in Gqeberha. The Tigers ended the second day of their series-deciding second Test against South Africa with half of their batting line-up already back in the pavilion.
Bangladesh scored 139 for five, still trailing by 314 runs, at Stumps.
In reply to South Africa's mammoth first-innings total of 453 runs, Bangladesh got off to a stuttering start -- losing opener Mahmudul Hasan Joy to a Duanne Olivier delivery in the very first over with just a single run on the board.
Bangladesh did fight back briefly through a promising second-wicket stand between Tamim Iqbal and Najmul Hossain Shanto. The duo scored at a brisk pace and looked to be in the groove.
Tamim, in particular, played fluently, smashing a total of eight boundaries during his 57-ball 47.
However, Wiaan Mulder had both Tamim and Shanto trapped in front almost in a similar fashion -- drawing both the batters to play a shot as the angling-in delivery went on to hit them on the pads -- in successive overs. Tamim was the first one to fall, ending his 79-run stand with Shanto.
Two quick wickets had put the Tigers, who already had a daunting task at hand, in a more precarious situation. Their troubles compounded when skipper Mominul Haque (6 off 24) too followed suit quickly, extending his poor run of form as he too was trapped in front by yet another Mulder delivery.
Just when the Tigers looked to be rebuilding, another growing partnership between Liton Das and Mushfiqur Rahim was ended by Olivier near the end of the day's play. A good length delivery nipped back in sharply to go through the defenses of Liton (11 off 14).
Before a disastrous batting display, Bangladesh bowlers failed to wrap up South Africa's first innings quickly despite the hosts being five down on 278 at the start of the day. Bowling all-rounder Keshav Maharaj smashed his career-best 84, stitching crucial stands in between the aggressive knock, to propel the hosts to a daunting first-innings total.
SA post daunting first-innings total despite Taijul's six-for
Bowling all-rounder Keshav Maharaj top-scored for South Africa as the Proteas, despite a six-wicket haul from Bangladesh spinner Taijul Islam, posted a daunting first-innings total against the Tigers on the second day of their series-deciding second Test at St George's Park in Gqeberha today.
Maharaj smashed his career-best 95-ball 84 to help South Africa to a 453-run total as umpires signaled for Tea.
Maharaj, who starred in crucial stands of 80 and 38 with Wiaan Mulder and Simon Harmer at the death, was finally dismissed by Taijul in the second session. Taijul bagged his 10th Test fifer with that wicket and also reached the landmark of 150 wickets in Tests. Taijul, playing his 35 Test, is the second-highest wicket-taker for Bangladesh in Tests after Shakib Al Hasan, who has 215 wickets in 59 matches.
Taijul then had Harmer (29 off 59) stumped before Mehedi Hasan Miraz trapped Lizaad Williams in front to wrap the South Africa innings up. Taijul remained the standout performer for the Tigers, finishing with figures of six for 135 in 50 overs that included 10 maidens.
Taijul completes fifer but SA running the show
Bangladesh spinner Taijul Islam bagged his 10th Test fifer but South Africa assumed the control of the game as they extended their first-innings total past the 450-run mark on the second day of their series-deciding second Test at St George's Park in Gqeberha today.
South Africa were 453 for eight after 135 overs.
Left-arm spinner Taijul also reached the landmark of 150 wickets in Tests as he completed his fifer with the wicket of Keshav Maharaj, who frustrated the Tigers as he scored his career-best 95-ball 84 after coming on to bat early on the day. Taijul, playing his 35 Test, is the second-highest wicket-taker for Bangladesh in Tests after Shakib Al Hasan, who has 215 wickets in 59 matches.
Bowling all-rounder Maharaj saw his aggressive knock come to an end when he was castled by a Taijul delivery after the right-hander tried to go for a big heave on the leg side.
Maharaj has played aggressively since coming on to bat as he raced to fifty off just fifty deliveries before Lunch. The 32-year-old smashed a total of nine boundaries and three maximums and looked all set to smash his maiden Test ton till a Taijul delivery had him undone.
South Africa, however, are on top as the hosts are on their way to posting a daunting first-innings total.