Mustafizur Rahman’s four-for 37 on Test debut helped Bangladesh restrict the mighty South Africa at 248 runs in the first innings on day one in the first match of the their two-match National Polymer Test Cricket Series at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium here on Tuesday.
Opening the first innings on the first day, Bangladesh were at stumps scoring 7 for no loss in 2 overs as the bails were drawn for the day one in the port city.
Imrul Kayes and Tamim Iqbal were batting scoring 5 and 1 runs respectively for the side.Tigers new bowling sensation Mustafiz finished his aesthetic journey of four-for claiming the wicket of the visitors’ highest scorer Tema Bavuma in the first innings’ last delivery to restrict the Proteas score of 248 runs for all in 83.4 overs.
Tema Bavuma scored 54 runs off 108 balls with five fours for the side and was caught by Jubair Hossain.
In the day’s play, Mustafiz’s off-cutter molested the visitors batting castle claiming three wickets for 34 runs in his 14th over, which was the innings 60th.
Mustafiz three-for needed a span of four deliveries (from 59.1 to 59.4 overs) keeping the visitors at 173 runs.
He dismissed the visitors’ two wickets — skipper Hashim Amla (13 off 28b, 1X4) and Jean Paul Duminy for duck — in a row, in his 14th over’s first and second delivery, dropping just one bowl he captured Quinton de Kock also went out for duck in the over’s fourth delivery.
The visiting Proteas were on 173 for 6 in 59.4 in the innings third session while Mustafiz mesmerised the crowed in Chittagong. Mustafiz finally conceded 37 runs for four wickets in his 17.4 overs.
Apart from Mustafiz’s four-for, leg-break spin bowler Jubair Hossain grabbed three wickets conceding 53 runs in his 14-over spell.
Jubair dismissed number eight batsman Vernon Philander (24 runs off 36b, 2X4), was caught by Shakib Al Hasan, in his 11th overs fifth delivery at team’s 208 for 7 in 70.5 overs.
In his 14th over’s second and fourth deliveries, Jubair dismissed two wickets — Dale Steyn (9 off 37b) and Simon Harmer (2 off 2b) — to complete his three-for.
Earlier, the World Cup hero, for his back-to-back century in the world cricket extraaganza, Mahmudullah made the breakthrough in his second over’s fourth delivery for Bangladesh as he jolted the mighty South Africa batting castle early, the side elected to bat first after winning the toss, dismissing the visitors opening batsman Stiaan van Zyl at 58 runs in 13.4 overs.
Stiaan van Zyl was out for 34 runs off 49 balls featuring six fours before being caught by keeper Liton Kumar Das.
After Stiaan van Zyl, Faf du Plessis came to pair with opener Dean Elgar in the second wicket stand and were at stumps contributing 46 runs in 14.2 overs when the bails drawn for lunch at 104 for 1 in 28 overs.
Faf du Plessis was on 33 off 58 balls with five fours while opener Dean Elgar on batting scoring 30 runs off 61 balls with two fours for the side.
The visitors reached the 100-run mark with a four over the midwicket by Faf du Plessis off Taijul Islam in 26.5 overs.
Spinner Taijul Islam departed the second wicket pair of 78 runs in 33.1 overs, after lunch, claiming opener Dean Elgar at team’s 136 for 2 in 46.5 overs.
Dean Elgar was caught by keeper Liton Kumar Das after scoring 47 runs off 111 balls with three fours.
World number all-rounder in all three formats of cricket, Shakib Al Hasan trapped Faf du Plessis lbw keeping the visitors at same score of 136 runs.
Faf du Plessis was out for 48 runs off 122 balls with five fours in the sixth overs first delivery of Shakib Al Hasan at team’s 136 for 3 in 47.1 overs, meant Bangladesh clawed their way back with two wickets in three balls (from 46.5 to 47.1 overs).
South Africa managed 165 for 3 in 57 overs in their two sessions of the first innings.
Temba Bavuma who played for the place of number five and Skipper Hashim Amla were batting on scoring 20 and 9 runs respectively for the side.
Mahmudullah, Shakib Al Hasan and Taijul Islam took one wicket each for 9, 45 and 57 runs respectively for the side.
Brief score
South Africa first innings: 248 for allout in 83.4 overs; Tema Bavuma scored 54, Faf du Plessis 48, Dean Elgar 47, Vernon Philander 24, Mustafizur Rahman 4/37, Jubair Hossain 3/53.
Bangladesh first innings: 7 for no loss, at stumps, in 2 overs; Imrul Kays batting 5, Tamim Iqbal batting 1.- UNB
