It was a coming of age day for two of South Africa’s top three as Tony de Zorzi and Tristan Stubbs both scored their first Test centuries in Chattogram. Tony De Zorzi and Stubbs, with eight and five Test caps to their names respectively, shared South Africa’s third-highest second-wicket stand in Asia of 201 to put South Africa in a strong position to push for a series sweep.
Tristan Stubbs and Tony de Zorzi notched hundreds as South Africa ended Day 1 of the second Test against Bangladesh with their score at 307 for the loss of two wickets. At the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram, left-arm spinner Taijul Islam was the lone fighter for the Tigers after not getting much support from the other end.
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 : Morning Session : South Africa make strong start after opting to bat
South Africa made a strong start in the second Test in Chattogram after opting to bat first against Bangladesh. The openers added 69 for the first wicket and even though Aiden Markram couldn’t kick on and capitalize on his start, Tony de Zorzi remained unbeaten on 49 by lunch as the visitors went into the break at 109/1.
Both teams made multiple changes to their playing XI. Bangladesh handed a debut to wicketkeeper Mahidul Islam and made two more changes whereas South Africa brought in Senuran Muthusamy and Dane Peterson into the mix. Aiden Markram, once again filling in for Temba Bavuma as captain, got going with a neat cover drive and repeated the shot in the following over as well.
Tony De Zorzi then received an early reprieve when the ‘keeper failed to latch onto an outside edge off Hasan Mahmud and he made Bangladesh pay by hammering a six in the very next over off Taijul Islam. That was the release shot he needed as the left-hander now grew in confidence. The openers brought up 50 inside 11 overs and were looking good for more before Taijul struck. Just a few overs after the drinks break, trying to take on Taijul, Markram mistimed a shot in tame fashion to hit it straight to the mid-on fielder.
Tristan Stubbs, who made a watchful start, brought out the reverse sweep for his first boundary whereas Tony de Zorzi looked in good nick at the other end. The pair added 40 in breezy fashion before the break and considering the wicket is good for batting, the duo will be looking to cash in.
South Africa started the day strongly as stand-in captain Aiden Markram and Tony de Zorzi motored at 4.6 runs an over in the first hour. They hit four fours and a six between them as South Africa reached morning drinks on 60 without loss.
The only threat came from Hasan, who took Tony de Zorzi’s edge with the first ball of his fourth over but debutant wicketkeeper Mahidul Islam could not hold on. Bangladesh turned to spin from both ends after that and it brought success for Taijul. Markram advanced down the track to a ball that was not as short as he anticipated and chipped it to Mominul Haque at mid-on.
Markram’s dismissal allowed Bangladesh to pull the scoring rate back. They did not concede a boundary for 21 deliveries as Stubbs played himself in. He found his first four when he reverse-swept Mehidy Hasan Miraz behind point but then Bangladesh reapplied the squeeze. Another 28 balls were bowled for just 14 runs before de Zorzi brought up South Africa’s hundred with a sumptuous cover drive. Tony De Zorzi went to lunch one away from a third Test fifty and got there in the over after the break.
Day 1 : Post Lunch Session : Tony de Zorzi’s maiden ton puts Bangladesh under the pump
Bangladesh were put under the pump in the post-lunch session on Day 1 of the second Test as the home side went wicketless throughout the period of play. South Africa, who took early control in the Test, continued to milk the Bangladesh bowling attack with Tony de Zorzi and Tristan Stubbs adding over 100 runs. While de Zorzi brought up his maiden Test ton, Stubbs hit an unbeaten half-century as the visitors went into the Tea break at 205/1.
Tony De Zorzi didn’t take long to bring up his fifty once the session commenced as Bangladesh wasted a review in trying to get him out. After a sedate period of play that saw the run rate dip, Stubbs broke the shackles with a boundary through the covers off Hasan Mahmud. In the same over, Mahmud found the outside edge of de Zorzi but the ball fell short of the fielder at first slip.
The opener fetched his first boundary of the session with a reverse sweep after the drinks break before both the batters hit a boundary each off Mehidy Hasan to bring up the century stand. After surviving a DRS appeal, Stubbs took on Mehidy for a huge six down the ground and in the very next over, it was de Zorzi’s turn to take on the spin of Taijul Islam to launch one over deep midwicket to move into the 90s.
Just when it appeared like the opening batter had to wait until the final session to bring up his maiden ton, he swept Mehidy for another boundary in the penultimate over of the session to finally reach the landmark off just 146 deliveries. The home side now need a productive final session to take something from what’s been a one-sided opening day’s play.
The opening exchanges of the afternoon session were difficult for South Africa and they went 91 deliveries between boundaries as they navigated Rana’s pace and small amounts of proper turn from Taijul. Nahid’s lengths were improved from the fuller ones he employed in the morning and he stuck to back-of-a-length balls which proved difficult to get away.
But he did not come close to a wicket. Instead it was Mahmud who should have had something to show for his efforts. He drew Tony de Zorzi forward again and took the edge but the chance slipped through the hands of Shadman Islam at first slip, Tony de Zorzi and South Africa survived a period in which they scored only 34 runs in 13 overs after lunch and then things opened up a bit for them.
The next eight overs brought 32 runs at a healthier scoring rate and Stubbs brought up his second Test fifty. Stubbs grew in confidence when he hit Mehidy over the sightscreen for six and de Zorzi followed suit by entering the nineties by sending Taijul over long-on.
Tony De Zorzi reached his hundred with a sweep shot off Mehidy through square leg and celebrated his achievement to warm applause from the dug out, which included injured captain Temba Bavuma. Tony De Zorzi is only the second black African batter from South Africa to score a Test hundred, after Bavuma.
Day 1 : Afternoon Session : Tony De Zorzi, 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, Tony 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.
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.
As Tony de Zorzi struggled with cramps, Stubbs faced 25 of the first 30 deliveries after tea and showed good intent. He was particularly severe on Mehidy, charging him twice for six and reverse-sweeping him for four to near the nineties and knuckle down. Tony De Zorzi struggled to run between the wickets so the pair quietened down and Stubbs spent 39 balls getting from 88 to 100. He did it with a single to deep point and a standing ovation from everyone in the South African camp.
Stubbs was bowled in the next over by a ball that kept low from Taijul with about half an hour left of play in the day. South Africa saw that as a license to attack. Tony De Zorzi and David Bedingham played with freedom and scored 34 runs in the six overs that followed as Bangladesh awaited the second new ball.
They were also without their captain Najmul Hossain Shanto for that period after he left the field with what seemed like illness. Taijul led in his absence and took the second new ball as soon as it became available. Mehidy bowled one over with it before the players came off for bad light, with the day’s accolades going to de Zorzi.
South Africa went into this series with only two specialist batters in their squad with playing experience in the subcontinent and only one, Markram, with a century in Asia. The other, Bavuma, was ruled out of the series with injury, which left them further bereft of experience. A Test and a day into the series they have four batters in the playing XI who have scored centuries in the subcontinent.
After opting to bat first, the Proteas got off to a brilliant start courtesy of a 69-run opening partnership between stand-in skipper Aiden Markram and Tony De Zorzi. Taijul, who picked up eight wickets in Mirpur, including a five-wicket haul, separated them after dismissing Markram, who made 33 off 55 with two fours.
From there on, Tristan Stubbs joined Tony De Zorzi and made the Bangladeshi bowlers struggle. The duo put on 201 runs for the second wicket, laying the platform for the Proteas in their first innings. Stubbs went on to rack up his maiden Test hundred off 194 balls. The youngster scored 106 runs with six fours and three sixes before Taijul accounted for his wicket.
Tony De Zorzi got starts with knocks of 30 and 41 in the opening Test in Dhaka. But he made sure of making his starts count in Chattogram, bringing up his maiden Test hundred off 146 balls. After Stubbs got out, Tony De Zorzi put a price tag on his wicket to play until the end of the day’s play.
The left-hander stayed not out on 141 off 211 balls with 10 fours and three sixes. David Bedingham also took the attack to Taijul, hitting the spinner for two sixes. He was not out on 18 off 25 in a handy 37-run stand with de Zorzi, Hasan Mahmud, Nahid Rana and Mehidy Hasan toiled hard for 47 overs, but could not make a breakthrough for the Tigers.
Road Ahead on Day 2 for SA and Bangladesh
The umpires have decided that the light is not good enough and off they go. That should be stumps too. The light won’t improve from here in this part of the world. Tony de Zorzi walks off bat-raised and with sweat drenched all over his body. A fine day for South Africa as they lose just two wickets. The openers laid the foundation and even though Markram failed to kick on, both Stubbs and Tony de Zorzi did. Both of them got to their maiden Test 100s as they played the spinners so well.
When the line was outside off, they reverse-swept and when it was tossed up, they came down the track to play the lofted hits. Both of them scored quickly and it was hard toil for Bangladesh’s bowlers. There was not much in the pitch for the spinners and they couldn’t create enough pressure consistently to put the batters in trouble. Tony de Zorzi was dropped on 6 by Mahidul Islam Ankon and he made it count big. He was battling cramps all over his body in the latter stages of his knock but did not give up.
It was a coming of age day for two of South Africa’s top three as Tony de Zorzi and Tristan Stubbs both scored their first Test centuries in Chattogram. Tony De Zorzi and Stubbs, with eight and five Test caps to their names respectively, shared South Africa’s third-highest second-wicket stand in Asia of 201 to put South Africa in a strong position to push for a series sweep.
They made the most of batter-friendly conditions with little seam movement, swing or steep bounce and only hints of turn to assist the home attack. Bangladesh’s bowlers had little to work with and the best they managed was to keep South Africa quiet in patches. Their tall seamer Nahid Rana was the most impressive of the five-man attack and reached speeds of up to 148kph but went wicketless.
Left-arm spinner Taijul Islam picked up from where he left off after a five-for in Mirpur and was the only bowler to take wickets, although Hasan Mahmud will feel hard done by. Tony De Zorzi was dropped off him twice, on 6 and 69, on his way to an unbeaten 141. After winning a good toss and batting first, South Africa will be chuffed. Sets up the game nicely for them with the pitch expected to deteriorate as the game wears on. They would ideally be looking to bat just once on this.