Taijul Islam took center stage with a brilliant five-for as 16 wickets tumbled on an action-packed first day of the opening Test between Bangladesh and South Africa in Dhaka. By stumps, South Africa managed a slim 34-run lead, posting 140 for 6, with Taijul’s impressive 5-49 keeping them in check after Bangladesh were skittled out for just 106.
Despite early dominance from the South African bowlers, Taijul led Bangladesh’s fightback, especially in the final session where conditions worsened for batting. The visitors, who had cruised to 65 for 2, were rocked by a mini-collapse as Taijul dismantled their middle order, leaving them precariously placed at 108 for 6 before bad light ended play six overs early.
South Africa Take Early Control
South Africa started strong after bowling Bangladesh out cheaply inside two sessions, thanks to a collective effort from Wiaan Mulder, Kagiso Rabada, and Keshav Maharaj, who each picked up three wickets. The Bangladesh innings never really got going as they struggled against the early swing and movement on offer. Mulder’s fiery opening spell, which included three wickets and three maidens, left the hosts reeling at 60 for 6 by lunch. Rabada’s express pace and Maharaj’s guile with the ball wrapped up the rest of the lineup.
Mahmudul Hasan Joy’s patient 30 off 97 deliveries was the only notable contribution as the rest of the batting order crumbled around him. Mulder set the tone, dismissing Najmul Hossain Shanto with a well-planned delivery around the wicket, while Rabada reached a personal milestone, becoming just the fourth South African bowler to claim 300 Test wickets after cleaning up Mushfiqur Rahim.
Bangladesh’s Brief Resistance
Despite the top-order failures, Taijul and Nayeem Hasan shared a valuable 26-run partnership for the ninth wicket, the highest of the innings, as they attempted to add some respectability to Bangladesh’s score. But Rabada returned after lunch to remove Nayeem, leaving Bangladesh with a modest total to defend on a tricky surface.
Taijul’s Spin Masterclass
When it was South Africa’s turn to bat, Taijul wasted no time in making an impact. The left-arm spinner turned the game on its head in the final session, accounting for five of the six South African wickets to fall. His sharp spin and bounce troubled the visitors, starting with David Bedingham, who top-edged a delivery to be caught in the deep. Debutant Matthew Breetzke followed soon after, misjudging a turning delivery that crashed into his stumps.
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Taijul then claimed the key wicket of Tony de Zorzi, who had looked solid in his 72-ball 30 before edging to slip. This wicket also marked a historic milestone for Taijul, as he became only the second Bangladeshi bowler after Shakib Al Hasan to reach 200 Test wickets.
South Africa’s Middle-Order Struggles
Despite the collapse, Kyle Verreynne and Wiaan Mulder’s unbeaten knocks helped South Africa reach 140 for 6 by the close of play, giving them a slender 34-run lead. Tristan Stubbs and Tony de Zorzi tried to stabilize the innings but found it difficult to score freely on a surface that was increasingly assisting spin.
While South Africa still hold the upper hand after Day 1, Taijul’s brilliance has kept Bangladesh in the hunt on a challenging surface. With spinners dominating the game so far, Day 2 promises more drama as the balance of power remains finely poised.
Brief Scores:
Bangladesh: 106 (Mahmudul Hasan 30; Wiaan Mulder 3-22, Kagiso Rabada 3-26, Keshav Maharaj 3-34)
South Africa: 140/6 (Tony de Zorzi 30, Rickelton 27, Taijul Islam 5-49), lead by 34 runs.
Series Overview:
- 2002/03: South Africa claimed victory with a 2-0 margin in the two-match series held in South Africa.
- 2003: The series shifted to Bangladesh, but the result remained the same, with South Africa again winning 2-0.
- 2007/08: South Africa maintained their dominance, winning another 2-0 series in Bangladesh.
- 2008/09:The trend continued in South Africa, where the home team secured another 2-0 series victory.
- 2015: In a rare occurrence, the series in Bangladesh ended in a 0-0 draw, marking the only time Bangladesh managed to hold South Africa at bay.
- 2017/18: South Africa bounced back to assert their dominance with a 2-0 victory in the series hosted in South Africa.
- 2021/22: The latest series once again saw South Africa triumph with a 2-0 win, reinforcing their historical advantage over Bangladesh.
