An unbeaten 89-run stand between Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Jaker Ali helped Bangladesh reduce the deficit to 1 run after the hosts lost three early wickets on Day 3 of the first Test against South Africa at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka on Wednesday,
South Africa made inroads quite early in the day striking thrice within the first half an hour of play. Kagiso Rabada dismissed the overnight batters – Mahmudul Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim. The opener was the first to depart looking to slash at a delivery wide outside the offstump, only to get a thick edge to first slip. Two balls later, Rahim was cleaned up with an incoming delivery, much like he was dismissed in the first innings.
To add to Bangladesh’s miseries, less than three overs later, Keshav Maharaj’s away spinning delivery caught the outside edge of Litton Das’s bat on its way to the ‘keeper. Even as the on-field umpire didn’t notice the edge, the decision was overturned through a review, leaving Bangladesh down at 112 for 6, and a 90-run deficit still to clear.
Just when the end of the contest seemed near, Mehidy and Jaker put on a strong fightback. They didn’t go ultra-aggressive, but were quick to latch on to the scoring opportunities. Mehidy got going by punching Rabada through the backward point region for a boundary, and in his next over, crisply drove an overpitched delivery by the pacer towards the boundary ropes. Jaker also employed the sweep against Maharaj.
As the partnership steadied, Mehidy stepped down the track and clubbed Dane Piedt down the ground for a six. He continued to use his feet even against Maharaj, slamming a couple of boundaries through the offside. Their scoring rate also picked up as the partnership flourished, leaving the South African bowlers with little answer.
Mehidy, who has been the highest run-getter as well as the highest wicket-taker for Bangladesh in the ongoing WTC cycle, went on to notch up his ninth Test fifty and helped the hosts cross the 200-run mark in the second innings, and placed them in a position to avoid an innings defeat.
Brief Scores: Bangladesh 106 (Mahmudul Hasan 30; Wiaan Mulder 3-22, Kagiso Rabada 3-26, Keshav Maharaj 3-34) & 201/6 (Mehidy Hasan 55*; Kagiso Rabada 4-35) trail South Africa 308 (Kyle Verreynne 114, Wiaan Mulder 54; Taijul Islam 5-122) by 1 run.
