South African pacer Kagiso Rabada dominated Bangladesh to bag a fifer in the second Test currently underway in Chattogram. After his team declared first innings at 575/6, Kagiso Rabada tormented the host’s top and middle order to complete his 16th five-wicket haul in Test cricket. It was as complete a performance as South Africa could have hoped for with three centuries in the batting line-up and wickets for both seamers and spinners.
They claimed 16 on the third day, with five-fors for both their champion seamer Kagiso Rabada and first-choice left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj. Spin-bowling allrounder Senuran Muthusamy also earned a career-best with a second-innings 4 for 45. Keshav Maharaj (5-59) and Senuran Muthusamy (4-45) ran through Bangladesh’s second innings as the hosts folded for 143 to hand South Africa a series-clinching victory by an innings and 273 runs in Chattogram on the third day. It is their first Test series win in Asia since 2014.
Pitch Report and Toss
Pitch report: The outfield looks lush and green. Captains have batted first most of the times at this venue. In Chattogram it bounces a little lesser than Dhaka, hence the bowlers need to adjust their length accordingly. There are a few cracks on the surface, but it looks an absolute belter. 380 is the average first innings total at this venue. The new ball will move around a bit, but it’s batter friendly, reckons Ed Rainsford.
Toss : South Africa skipper Aiden Markram won the toss and chose to bat with two changes in the playing XI. Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto bowling first also made three changes in the playing XI.
Day 1 : Tony De Zorzi, Tristan Stubbs hit maiden tons as SA take early control on Day 1
Tony de Zorzi and Tristan Stubbs registered their maiden Test tons as South Africa grabbed the opening day honours against Bangladesh in the second Test match in Chattogram. de Zorzi batted throughout the day, finishing on an unbeaten 141 whereas Stubbs hit 106 as the two centurions put on 201 for the second wicket to frustrate the home side.
Both teams made multiple changes heading into the game as stand-in skipper Aiden Markram had no hesitation in opting to bat first after winning the toss. While Markram got going with a neat cover drive, De Zorzi hammered a six after getting a reprieve previously with Bangladesh’s debutant keeper failing to latch on to a chance. The openers looked in good touch as the half-century stand was brought up inside 11 overs. Against the run of play, Taijul Islam struck for the hosts as Markram mistimed one straight to mid-on.

That was the only period of relief for Bangladesh as they were kept at bay for a very long time from thereon. Stubbs, who made a watchful start, brought out the reverse sweep for his first boundary before the pair really stamped their authority in the post-lunch session. After a watchful period of play, it was Stubbs who broke the shackles with a boundary before the opener brought out the reverse sweep for his first boundary of the session, which came after the drinks break.
Bangladesh not only saw the pair add over 100 runs but also lost a couple of reviews in a desperate attempt to break the partnership. Stubbs and de Zorzi hit a six each in successive overs to pile on the agony before the opener brought up his century just before the Tea break. Once the final session commenced, it was Stubbs who took the initiative to keep the scorecard moving.

Mehidy Hasan was targeted in particular for a couple of sixes and a four whereas de Zorzi was content handing over the strike to the right-hander especially after showing signs of discomfort.
Eventually, Stubbs reached his milestone as two South African batters managed to hit centuries in the same innings for South Africa after five years. Taijul gave a beleaguered bowling unit some boost by finally bringing an end to the double-century stand as Stubbs got a bottom edge that clattered the stumps.
Just before the second new ball was taken, South Africa sprung a surprise by going on the offensive to collect a few boundaries. Bangladesh however will have to wait to see if they can make some inroads with the new ball after bad light forced an early finish to the day with the home side bowling just a single over with the brand new cherry.
Day 2 : Kagiso Rabada strikes keeps Ban at 38 for 4 after Wiaan Mulder’s maiden Test ton highlights Day 2
Bangladesh were wrecked in the final session before stumps as South Africa look primed to clinch the second Test having completely dominated proceedings on the second day. The visitors continued to pile on the runs before declaring at 575/6, after which their bowlers breezed through the Bangladesh lineup to leave the hosts reeling at 38/4 by stumps.
South Africa continued from where they had left as David Bedingham took on the scoring duties. He hit a flurry of boundaries before Tony de Zorzi hit successive fours to move past 150. The runs continued to flow even after the drinks break until Taijul Islam finally broke through. The left-arm spinner castled Bedingham after he had gone past fifty and the hosts capitalized on that opening by adding two more wickets in succession to go into the lunch break on a high.

Bangladesh also kickstarted the post-lunch session with another wicket as the visitors lost their last four wickets at that point for just 37 runs. However, any hopes of Bangladesh keeping South Africa under 475 evaporated quickly as Wiaan Mulder now took charge alongside Senuran Muthusamy. Mulder helped himself to another fifty in the series whereas Muthusamy made a rapid start as well. The duo put South Africa firmly in control again with a century stand and Muthusamy brought up a fifty immediately after play resumed in the final session.
At one point, Bangladesh did throw in the towel with the declaration seemingly around the corner. Mulder then lofted Taijul straight down the ground for a six that helped him bring up his maiden Test ton which was enough for the visitors to declare. With a massive task ahead of them, Bangladesh were pegged back in the very first over of their reply.
Newly crowned World No.1 Kagiso Rabada took just five balls to strike as Shadman Islam was strangled down the leg side for a duck. Zakir Hasan was the next to depart as he got an outside edge that was gobbled behind. Dane Paterson and Keshav Maharaj then got into the act by bagging wickets in successive overs that saw Bangladesh get reduced to 32/4 in just 7 overs. Eventually, it was bad light that brought an end to their misery as the players had to head back early like they did on the first day.
Day 3 : Morning Session : Kagiso Rabada’s fifer decimates Bangladesh in 1st innings
Kagiso Rabada (5-37) picked up his second successive five-wicket haul of the series as Bangladesh found themselves in a hole at 137/8 at lunch on the third day of the second Test against South Africa in Chattogram. It would have been far more embarrassing for the hosts if Mominul Haque (74*) and Taijul Islam (18*) hadn’t combined for an unbroken 89-run stand as the score read 48/8 very early in the first hour of the day.

Kagiso Rabada set the tone right from the get-go as he setup Najmul Hossain Shanto perfectly to get the Bangladesh captain nicking behind to the keeper. Veteran Mushfiqur Rahim then gifted his wicket to Dane Paterson with a soft dismissal as his uppish flick went straight to short mid-wicket.
It was the worst possible start to the day for Bangladesh who were already under the pump. Mehidy Hasan Miraz, the crisis man for the home side on most occasions, couldn’t last long as he joined the casualty list of Kagiso Rabada’s blistering spell. The Proteas spearhead extended South Africa’s dominance by dismissing Mahidul Islam for a duck.
At 48/8, it seemed like a potential follow-on would be enforced soon in the morning session itself. However, Mominul got stuck in and found solid support from Taijul as the pair put on a gritty partnership to thwart South Africa’s rampage. The surface also eased out a touch as the session went by. However, Bangladesh are so far behind in the game at this point that a comeback looks beyond reach for the home side right now. They still another 239 runs to avoid the follow-on, which looks an improbable event unless this partnership can do the unthinkable.
However, the hosts perhaps undermined the threat of Kagiso Rabada. The man who claimed a fifer in the first Test, extended his unreal dominance in Chattogram as well.
He got the first breakthrough in Shadman Islam and following a heated exchange, Zakir Hasan played a loose shot to edge to Verreynne at slips. For skipper Shanto, Kagiso Rabada devised a plan to bowl a shot of length delivery that angled in late, leaving Shanto in two minds as he nicked it to Verreynne.
For the fourth wicket, Kagiso Rabada’s peach delivery shocked Mehidy Hasan Miraz as his lack of footwork induced a thick edge to slip cordon. Debutant Mahidul Islam, too, couldn’t weather Kagiso Rabada’s fiery spell as he was adjudged LBW off a two-ball duck.
With that, Kagiso Rabada clinched his second consecutive fifer and also his career 16th five-wicket-haul. He has been an absolute match winner for South Africa since debut and now he’s even groomed enough to make an impact in subcontinent condition
Bangladesh’s captain Najmul Hossain Shanto is a case in point. In the first innings, he was in two minds against a Kagiso Rabada delivery that spat up off the surface. Shanto was unsure whether to drive or block and got an edge through to Kyle Verreynne. Four balls later, Mushfiqur Rahim handed the easiest of catches to Tony de Zorzi at square leg off Dane Paterson and was dismissed for a duck.
In the over after that, Kagiso Rabada took two wickets in three balls: first Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who followed a ball that moved away and was caught behind, and then the debutant Mahidul Islam, who shouldered arms to a delivery that struck him on the knee roll. That gave Kagiso Rabada his second five-for in as many Tests, and second in the subcontinent.
Mominul took the fight to South Africa and scored ten runs off two deliveries from Maharaj to take Bangladesh over 50 and avoid being dismissed for one of their three lowest totals in Test cricket. But South Africa sensed an opportunity to run through them and appealed for almost anything. Maharaj reviewed two lbw shouts against Taijul.
The first was clipping leg but upheld on umpire’s call and, on the second the impact was outside off. He finally had a decision go his way when Langton Rusere gave Mominul out when he missed a sweep but Mominul reviewed immediately and UltraEdge showed an under-edge. Mominul was on 37 at the time. He brought up fifty of the 76th ball he faced off Maharaj and South Africa thought they had him later in the over when he seemed to be caught at leg slip. Replays showed the ball came off the flap of his front pad.
Kagiso Rabada was brought back for a burst before lunch and immediately thought he had Mominul snaffled down the leg side but had overstepped. If South Africa have a concern after this match, it’s the number of no-balls they bowled. Kagiso Rabada sent down nine and Paterson, four.
Muthusamy was given the ball for the first time five minutes before lunch and resumed after the break. He broke Mominul’s resistance with a ball that turned back into him and struck him on the front pad. Mominul was given out lbw and reviewed but the ball appeared to rush past the outside edge without making contact and the on-field decision was upheld.
Maharaj ended the innings when Nahid Rana handed a catch back to him to give him a return of 2 for 57. At that point, South Africa opted not to bat again and enforced the follow-on with a view to wrapping things up quickly.
Day 3 : Afternoon Session : Maharaj, Muthusamy shine as SA seal series with an innings and 273 runs victory
Keshav Maharaj (5-59) and Senuran Muthusamy (4-45) ran through Bangladesh’s second innings as the hosts folded for 143 to hand South Africa a series-clinching victory by an innings and 273 runs in Chattogram on the third day. It is their first Test series win in Asia since 2014.
Much like their first innings, Bangladesh’s batters were once again shoddy in their shot selection and were unable to cope with the pressure created by South Africa’s disciplined bowlers. If it were the pacers who did bulk of the damage for the Proteas in the previous three innings, spin finally came into play for them to restore normal service in Bangladesh.

Muthusamy began the post-Tea session with the crucial breakthrough of Mushfiqur Rahim who was trapped LBW after a brilliant review. Shortly after, Mehidy Hasan Miraz was snapped up by Maharaj who induced a top-edge off the sweep to send the batter back to the hut. These two wickets early in the final session meant that the game was all set to end on the third day itself. Skipper Najmul Hossain battled hard for his knock of 36 but he became Muthusamy’s fourth wicket as Bangladesh slid further.

Mahidul Islam and Hasan Mahmud delayed the inevitable briefly with the latter throwing his bat around but it was only a matter of time. After a dogged stay at the crease, Mahidul’s attempt to play the big shot cost him his wicket and a couple of overs later, Maharaj wrapped up the game by getting rid of Nahid Rana to complete a famous series win in the sub-continent for the Proteas.
The visitors were flawless throughout, batting Bangladesh out of the game with a terrific performance. It was led by centuries from Tony de Zorzi (177), Tristan Stubbs (106) and Wiaan Mulder (105).
The de Zorzi-Stubbs stand was worth 201 and put South Africa firmly on course for a massive first innings total on a good batting surface. Unlike the pitch in Dhaka, Bangladesh’s bowlers didn’t get much assistance in Chattogram and were taken apart by South Africa’s bowlers. The hosts weren’t disciplined enough either and couldn’t the right areas for long periods.
David Bedingham also slammed a quickfire fifty to keep the momentum going but there was a slight stutter at one point where Bangladesh harbored hopes of keeping South Africa to a total under 450.
However, Mulder once again came up trumps and put on an unbeaten 152-run stand with Muthusamy (68*) to deflate Bangladesh. Taijul Islam picked up a fifer for the home side but it was a laborious effort that hardly had any support from the other end.
With better batting conditions on offer, Bangladesh should have put up a better fight with the bat in comparison to Dhaka but if anything, the performance was worse. Kagiso Rabada (5-37) produced his second successive fifer of the series to blow away Bangladesh who slipped to a shocking 48/8 at one stage.
Mominul Haque (82) and Taijul (30) stitched a 101-run stand to help avoid some embarrassment but Bangladesh eventually folded for 159, which meant a huge first innings deficit of 416. Not surprisingly, Aiden Markram enforced the follow-on and got just what he wanted as his bowlers mopped up the formalities on the same day itself. The batting disaster continued for Bangladesh in the second innings with the only difference being that they were wrecked by spin instead of pace.
Muthusamy relished himself as did the seasoned Maharaj with the spin twins sharing nine scalps between them to rout Bangladesh for 143. If not for contributions from Ankon and Mahmud at the end, the margin of defeat would have been much higher. A memorable series win for South Africa who end their series drought in Asia while Bangladesh have serious retrospection to do after an embarrassing whitewash defeat at home.
Bangladesh’s second dig did not go that much better. Shadman Islam was dropped off Wiaan Mulder in the second over but four overs later, he nicked Paterson from a delivery that angled in. Kagiso Rabada could have had Zakir Hasan in the next over but Aiden Markram, at second slip, dived across first slip and neither could complete the catch. Instead, it was Muthusamy who had his moment to shine.
His fifth ball turned away from Mahmudul Hasan Joy and took the edge, where Markram completed a good low catch at slip. Three balls later, Mominul picked out Muthusamy on the leg-side boundary and Maharaj could not believe his luck. And then, Muthusamy also struck gold with the last ball before tea when Zakir advanced on him, missed and was stumped. Bangladesh went to tea at 43 for 4.
Mushfiqur’s miserable match ended when he was out lbw off Muthusamy, confirmed on South Africa’s review, and Maharaj removed Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Taijul as they both tried to manufacture run-scoring opportunities with big shots. As the light faded and the stand between Mahmud and Mahidul grew, South Africa may have thought they’d have to return to finish the job on the fourth morning.
But Mahidul, on debut, eventually gave it away. He was tempted by one of Maharaj’s tossed-up balls and hit it to Rabada at long-off. Maharaj and Muthusamy were in a race to see who would get five and it was Maharaj who won as Nahid popped a catch to David Bedingham at silly mid-off to end the match inside three days.
Presentations and Takeaways from the series for SA and BAN
Aiden Markram the winning skipper said : I am not really good with numbers, proud of the boys, proud of the group. A lot of hard work went into it, it paid off. We played some really good cricket, considering the conditions we are not used to. It’s special. They (de Zorzi, Stubbs and Mulder) stuck in there and got the team into a good position (with their centuries.) They put up their individual aspect aside and played for the team.
They could’ve been satisfied getting to eighty but they pushed on for the team. The bowlers worked well together. KG led from the front, was special to watch him. Everyone took their opportunities.
Proud of all the three facets of the game. It’s a long way away, but to be in the mix for the finals is what’s driving us, lot of Test cricket still to be played. Got to take it session by session, Test match by Test match. Hopefully we are on that flight to Lord’s (for the World Test championship final.)
Najmul Hossain Shanto the losing skipper said : They played very good cricket. Disappointed with the way we played both the Test matches. I think we need to improve in a lot of things. We bowled well, but as a team we need to improve. It’s not about just mental. It is mental and skill wise, you need to improve in both aspects.
There were a few positives, Mominul played well in the first innings, he put up a fight. We need a character like Taijul in the team. Need our top-order to improve.
Tony De Zorzi Player of the Match for his 177 runs said : Happy to contribute. Our bowling attack did a good job. Winning the toss was good, credit goes to the other batters. We are a young side, winning away from home is good. We will take this confidence going back home.
Kagiso Rabada Player of the Series for his bowling performance said : I thought losing the toss wasn’t the greatest of starts. But we quickly turned things around. Our batters capitalized in this game. They put us in a good position, that helped the bowlers to do their job. Every individual in this team is willing to put their hand up.
Different individuals did that for us throughout the series, we know we got the quality, especially in the bowling unit. The game moves on, you just have to keep working hard. I don’t look at the rankings where I’m at or whatever, but it’s a great motivator to keep going.
South Africa register an emphatic win by an innings and 273 runs to clinch the Test series by a 2-0 margin. Two clinical performances in this series by the Proteas as they strengthen their chances to qualify for the World Test Championship final. Still a long way to go, but as a result of these two convincing wins, they will get a lot of confidence going forward.
Also, they are a really strong side while playing in home conditions, so that’s an added advantage. Coming back to this Test, Aiden Markram made all the right calls. The South African skipper elected to bat first on a good batting track and his batters made the most of the conditions. Tony de Zorzi, Tristan Stubbs and Wiaan Mulder scored centuries, while Bedingham and Muthusamy notched up fifties to post a huge first innings total of 575/6.
Bangladesh were down and out after they were made to toil hard in the field by the South African batters, and once again Markram made the right call by declaring towards the end of day 2. In less than 10 overs, South Africa managed to pick up four wickets and further strengthen their hold on the Test. With a slightly early start on day 3, Rabada put the morning conditions to good use and took early wickets. Bangladesh were reduced to 48/8, however, Mominul and Taijul put up a fight with a 100-plus partnership for the 9th wicket.
Their resilience came to an end in the post-lunch session when Mominul was trapped lbw by Senuran Muthusamy. Rabada was the pick of the bowlers with a superb five-wicket haul.
South Africa enforced the follow-on having gained a huge lead of 400-plus, and it was the South African left-arm spinners who broke Bangladesh’s spine in the second innings. Muthusamy took four wickets, while Maharaj bagged a five-wicket haul as Bangladesh were bundled out for a paltry total of 143. A thoroughly professional performance by the Proteas over the course of three days.
It was as complete a performance as South Africa could have hoped for with three centuries in the batting line-up and wickets for both seamers and spinners. They claimed 16 on the third day, with five-fors for both their champion seamer Kagiso Rabada and first-choice left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj. Spin-bowling allrounder Senuran Muthusamy also earned a career-best with a second-innings 4 for 45.
For Bangladesh, batting remains a major concern. On a fairly placid pitch, they were on the brink at 48 for 8 in their first innings before Mominul Haque and Taijul Islam combined for a 103-run stand for the ninth-wicket. That was Bangladesh’s third-highest partnership against South Africa for any wicket.
Mominul was dismissed 18 short of a 14th Test century. There were no other scores above 30 in the first innings and none higher than Hasan Mahmud’s 38 in the second innings, where they also had no partnerships higher than 37. Shot selection was a particular concern, especially in picking up the right lengths to drive and knowing when to attack the spinners.
South Africa completed their first series win in the subcontinent in a decade, their first series sweep in Asia since 2008 and are up to fourth place on the World Test Championship (WTC) points table. An innings-and-273-run victory, their largest of all time, over Bangladesh in Chattogram means South Africa need to win at least three of their four home Tests this summer to maintain a chance to qualify for the WTC final.
Aiden Markram collects the trophy and poses for the cameras along with his team-mates. They are a happy bunch. Meanwhile, Bangladesh won a couple of Tests against Pakistan in Pakistan just a month ago, but they have been humbled in home conditions by South Africa. The Proteas outclassed the hosts in both the Tests and proved their mettle.
With four Tests in South Africa against Sri Lanka and Pakistan in the upcoming months they have a strong chance of making it to the Test Championship final. Would be interesting to see how they perform in those Tests back home.