Tigers are in deep trouble with losing four wickets for 38 runs in their first innings when South Africa declared after scoring a massive 575 runs for six wickets on second day at the Chattogram Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium on Wednesday.
South Africa, who began the Day Two with 307 runs and with two wickets in hands, added 268 runs with losing four wickets before to declare their first innings on 575 runs for six wickets.
The hosts sunk to 38 for 4 at stumps, as their recent batting frailties showed up even on the batting-friendly pitch of the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium. Even an award of five penalty runs, due to the umpires finding Senuran Muthusamy damaging the pitch, couldn't inspire Bangladesh.
Kagiso Rabada, recently ranked No. 1 among Test bowlers, had Shadman Islam strangle down the leg side for a duck in the first over. Rabada then removed Zakir Hasan, also caught behind, for 2, in his next over.
Meanwhile, Wiaan Mulder became the third maiden centurion in the South Africa innings following Tony de Zorzi and Tristan Stubb, who hammered their respective century on first day while Mulder’s milestone prompted the visitors’ declaration on the second day.
As Mulder struck Taijul Islam for his fourth six, a savage hit down the ground, he lofted his arms in celebration. Captain Aiden Markram allowed him to spend that moment in the middle before calling back the batters.
Mulder and Senuran Muthusamy added 152 runs for the unbroken seventh wicket as South Africa piled up 575 for 6 declared. Bangladesh, however, will be the beneficiaries of five penalty runs, to be awarded at the start of their innings, as Muthusamy ran over the pitch in the penultimate over of the South Africa innings.
Mulder struck nine fours and three sixes in his unbeaten 105 off 150 balls. Muthusamy made 68 off 75 balls, with five fours and two sixes, also bringing up his maiden Test fifty. They wrested back control of their innings after Taijul completed his five-wicket haul in the day's first session.
Bangladesh didn't exactly own the first session of the second day, but Taijul helped them fight back by taking three wickets in successive overs. He removed Bedingham for 59, bowled trying to play the slog sweep. Centurion de Zorzi was given lbw, after missing a sweep. Kyle Verreynne, the centurion from the Dhaka Test, also missed a sweep, falling lbw for a duck.
Mulder and Muthusamy however kept Bangladesh at bay after the triple strike. It is the second time in as many games that Mulder was involved in a century stand for the seventh wicket. He added 119 runs with Verreynne in the Dhaka Test. They found boundaries quite regularly in the second session, Mulder in particular taking on the Bangladesh spinners.
He started the session smashing Taijul past mid-on before crashing Nahid Rana for two fours. He went over mid-off against Mehidy, followed by Muthusamy hitting Taijul for his first six. Mulder struck part-time offspinner Mahmudul Hasan Joy for two sixes off successive balls, the first of which brought up South Africa's 500 runs.
Taijul's five wickets came at 198 runs from 52.2 overs, the most expensive five-wicket haul by a Bangladeshi bowler. Rana took the other wicket, while the rest of the Bangladesh bowlers struggled.
South Africa had dominated the first day with centuries from de Zorzi and Stubbs, as they added 201 runs for the second wicket. The pair used the sweeps - reverse and conventional - effectively as the Bangladesh spinners, particularly Mehidy Hasan Miraz couldn't keep them quiet.
