Taijul Islam’s Wickets Balances Day 1, the Left-arm spinner for Bangladesh Taijul Islam totally came up and took 5 wickets off 49 runs. That put Bangladesh back in the game immediately during their first cricket Test against South Africa. Bangladesh’ first innings of 106 was hammered as they were bowled out on Day 1 but they fought back hard.
Taijul was great – he is now only the second Bangladeshi bowler to take 200 Test wickets, after Shakib Al Hasan. Thanks to him, Bangladesh reduced South Africa to 140 for 6 before bad light brought the day short.
It is anybody’s game but with 16 wickets falling on its first day, South Africa leads by 34 runs and Wiaan Mulder (on 17) and Kyle Verreynne (on 18) still at the crease. Bangladesh is already hoping the pitch breaks down enough for them to stave off a collapse by South Africa.
Earlier, Bangladesh lost wickets in the high order, the chief being Mukul, Rabada and Maharaj pitching in with the bat. After wickets in his first three overs, Mulder was quick to go in and strike. Bangladesh were 21-3 after Shadman Islam was out for a duck edging to slip, Mominul Haque and Shanto went for nothing.
And then Rabada made things worse, bowling Mushfiqur Rahim out for 11 to reach the 300 Test wicket landmark, becoming the sixth South African bowler to reach that. Neither did Liton Das, who was caught at gully for a single, having lasted only a short time. Maharaj had trapped Mehidy Hasan lbw for 13 before lunch.
In the second session, Dane Piedt had Mahmudul Hasan (30 off 97 balls) bowled. Then, on debut, Jaker Ali Anik was stumped by Maharaj for 2 as Bangladesh slipped to 76-8. Luckily, top 20 hitter Taijul chipped in 16 runs to get the total past 100.
Hasan Mahmud got things rolling when he dismissed stand in captain Aiden Markram in the opening over as South Africa came to bat. Taijul then read off South Africa’s middle; then, after a few overs, the latter started falling apart. But Taijul wasn’t having it as Tristan Stubbs (23) and Tony de Zorzi (30) put up a pretty fight with a 44-run partnership. Both were dismissed and so were Matt Breetzke and Ryan Rickelton (who scored 27 but crashed to ball to a skidding ball which popped off a rough patch).
Nelson Verreynne and Mulder held off the rest of the day and the game finished 140 for six and South Africa 140 for 6 with the sides tied on 34 runs.
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