South Africa defeated Bangladesh by an innings and 273 runs to complete a 2-0 sweep in the Test series. Bangladesh suffered a major collapse, losing 16 wickets in just one day. The defeat ranks as one of their heaviest in Test history, with significant contributions from South African bowlers Kagiso Rabada and Keshav Maharaj.
South Africa has decisively defeated Bangladesh by an innings and 273 runs within three days, thereby completing a clean sweep of the two-Test series on Thursday. This match marked a significant moment for Bangladesh, as they lost a total of 16 wickets on day three, culminating in their second worst defeat in Test history, trailing only behind a loss to the West Indies by an innings and 310 runs in 2002. Faced with South Africa’s monumental total of 575-6 declared, Bangladesh collapsed to 159 all out just after lunch, leading to a follow-on scenario. In their second innings, Bangladesh was again bowled out for 143 runs in a mere 44 overs. The standout performances for South Africa came from fast bowler Kagiso Rabada, who secured figures of 5-37 in the first innings, and left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj, who achieved 5-59 in the second innings. This test win followed South Africa’s earlier victory by seven wickets in the first Test, marking their first success in the subcontinent since 2014. Starting day three at 38-4, Bangladesh quickly found themselves in dire straits at 48-8, with Rabada claiming his 15th five-wicket haul in Test matches. A brief resistance was mounted by Mominul Haque and Taijul Islam, who added 103 runs for the ninth wicket, with Mominul scoring a commendable 82 runs, while Taijul contributed 30. Despite holding a commanding lead of 416 runs from the first innings, South Africa enforced the follow-on, and their bowlers effectively dismantled the Bangladesh batting lineup in less than two sessions. Senuran Muthusamy, in his fourth Test match, provided exceptional support with a career-best 4-45, perfectly complementing Maharaj’s efforts. Notable contributions came from No. 10 batter Hasan Mahmud, who remained unbeaten on 38, and captain Najmul Hossain Shanto, who scored 36 runs. However, poor shot selection ultimately led to Bangladesh’s downfall. After a hard-fought innings, Mominul Haque returned to the crease less than half an hour later, only to be dismissed for a duck while attempting to dominate Maharaj. Muthusamy also extended Mushfiqur Rahim’s struggle, trapping him leg before for a mere two runs, marking ten innings without a half-century since his epic score of 191 against Pakistan. Shanto attempted to counter the opposition’s attack, yet Muthusamy and Maharaj diligently continued to pick up wickets, placing Bangladesh at risk of a total below 100 runs. Muthusamy’s sharp delivery ultimately deceived Shanto, resulting in his wicket. Debutant Mahidul Islam managed 29 runs, while Hasan Mahmud provided some late heroics, helping the team exceed the 100-run mark. Nonetheless, Maharaj quickly dismissed Mahidul and Nahid Rana, achieving his 10th five-wicket haul in tests and sealing Bangladesh’s fate. The match’s outcome underscores the disparities in performance levels, highlighting South Africa’s dominance over Bangladesh in this series.
The recent two-Test series between South Africa and Bangladesh witnessed South Africa’s significant dominance, culminating in a comprehensive innings victory on the third day of the second Test. This particular match is historically noted as one of Bangladesh’s harshest defeats, raising concerns about their batting resilience and strategic execution under pressure. The series itself was crucial for South Africa, as it provided them with valuable wins on subcontinental soil, which had been elusive since 2014. Key players such as Kagiso Rabada and Keshav Maharaj demonstrated top-tier performances, solidifying their status as formidable forces in international cricket.
In conclusion, South Africa’s emphatic victory over Bangladesh by an innings and 273 runs highlights the team’s superior performance and strategic superiority throughout the series. The results expose critical weaknesses in the Bangladesh squad, particularly in their batting strategy and execution under challenging conditions. Such outcomes may prompt a reassessment of Bangladesh’s approach to Test cricket, while South Africa reaffirms its status as a dominant force in the format.
Original Source: www.business-standard.com
