Bangladesh, at 43-4 and facing an innings defeat against South Africa, struggles to recover from a 373-run deficit on day three of the second Test. Dismissed for 159 in their second innings, Bangladesh is trying to avoid a series sweep after failing to win in 15 previous Tests against South Africa.
In a challenging Test match at Chattogram, Bangladesh found themselves in a precarious position at 43-4, with an impending innings defeat looming against South Africa due to a substantial 373-run deficit at the tea break on the third day. After being dismissed for 159 in their second innings, Bangladesh was compelled to bat again, facing a formidable South African side which had declared its first innings at 575-6, thereby holding a 1-0 lead in the two-match series. At this juncture, captain Najmul Hossain Shanto stood almost single-handedly on 13 runs after Zakir Hasan fell victim to a stumping off Senuran Muthusamy’s delivery, concluding his brief innings at seven runs just prior to the tea break. South Africa’s Dane Paterson initiated the collapse, claiming Shadman Islam’s wicket for six runs with a precise delivery that was caught by keeper Kyle Verreynne. Similarly, Muthusamy made an instant impact in his first over, dismissing Mahmudul Hasan Joy for a single run as Aiden Markram at slip took the catch. As the evening unfolded, Bangladesh’s situation deteriorated further when Keshav Maharaj sealed Mominul Haque’s fate, who had been a key performer with 82 runs in the first innings, leaving the hosts reeling at 29-3. Kagiso Rabada, who achieved notable success with figures of 5-37 in the first innings, continued to assert his dominance, further reducing Bangladesh to 48-8 during the third day. The hosts began the day at a challenging 38-4, yet Rabada struck early, catching captain Najmul off guard with a delivery that he edged to Verreynne. Mushfiqur Rahim departed on a naught, as Paterson secured a simple catch off his bowling, exacerbating the situation at 47-6. To compound matters, Rabada’s ensuing over produced two more wickets, claiming the dismissals of Mehidy Hasan Miraz and debutant Mahidul Islam Ankon, leading to Rabada’s second five-wicket haul for the series. In contrast, South Africa’s first innings showcased remarkable contributions from three batsmen—Tony de Zorzi, Tristan Stubbs, and Wiaan Mulder—each securing maiden Test centuries. With their commanding performance, South Africa aims to complete a series sweep after having triumphed by seven wickets in the inaugural Test, whereas Bangladesh searches for a historic win against South Africa, having failed to achieve victory in any of their 15 previous encounters.
The ongoing Test series between Bangladesh and South Africa marks a significant contest, with South Africa presently leading the two-match series after their initial victory. Bangladesh is striving to break a lengthy winless streak against the Proteas, seeking not only to secure a match victory but potentially gain confidence and momentum for future contests. The challenge is evident, as Bangladesh’s struggles with consistency against higher-ranked teams are apparent throughout the match events detailed.
In summary, Bangladesh faces a daunting task as they stand on the brink of an innings defeat against South Africa, trailing significantly with a 373-run deficit after a dismal batting performance on the third day of the Second Test. Key performances, particularly by Rabada and the South African batsmen, have defined the match thus far. The result of this Test match appears heavily inclined towards the visitors as Bangladesh seeks to rally and avoid a clean sweep in this series.
Original Source: www.hindustantimes.com
