Tigers succumb to shambolic 332-run defeat to SA in 2nd Test
News Desk:
Bangladesh on Monday paid the price of their reckless batting yet again by tasting a humiliating 332-run defeat to South Africa (SA) in the second and final Test at Port Elizabeth.
The Tigers lost the first Test by 220 runs and suffered another whitewash in two-match Test series at the hands of South Africa.
The fourth day of the second Test indeed was the replay of the Bangladesh’s fourth innings of the first Test when left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj triggered a sensational collapse to wrap up the innings in a blink of eye.
Maharaj appeared as Bangladesh’s nemesis again, taking 7-40 as Bangladesh were bundled out for 80 inside one hour of the day four. Offspiner Simon Harmer played a perfect foil to him, like the first game, with 3-34.
Maharaj also took 7-32 in the fourth innings of the first game as Bangladesh were wrapped up for 53. Here in fact they made 27 runs more but still ended up being all out below 100.
Like the fourth innings of the first Test, South African didn’t call any other bowlers for action apart from those two spinners.
Maharaj ended the series with 16 wickets under his belt while Harmer got 13, meaning out of available 40 wickets, the spinners shared 29 wickets against a team, who regularly played in turning wicket back at home.
The only difference was the second Test didn’t go to the fifth day like the first Test.
Bangladesh’s batting debacle and the shambolic defeat, however, put a shed on the performance of Taijul Islam who ended the match with 9-202 to record a best bowling by a Bangladeshi bowler against South Africa, that too on Proteas den.
Only three Bangladeshi batters could reach the double digit figure with Liton Das making the highest 27. Mehidy Hasan Miraz scored 20 and Tamim Iqbal added 13.
Bangladesh resumed the day on 27-3, chasing a daunting total of 413. As has been the case, they crumbled under pressure and played forced shot to dig their own graveyards.
Maharaj struck in just second over of the day, dismissing Mushfiqur Rahim (1) who played an expensive drive against the tossed up delivery to edge to the slip where Dean Elgar dived his left to hold on an excellent catch.
Just one over later, he broke the spine of Bangladesh completely, having removed Bangladesh Captain Mominul Haque (5) who played a sweep shot against the spin to throw his wicket.
Offpsiner Simon Harmer then joined the party and got rid of Yasir Ali for duck.
Liton Das meanwhile counterattacked, realizing that surviving against those two spinners won’t be a cake-walk. He connected the ball well but eventually chose a wrong ball to charge and got stumped as Maharaj completed his ninth five-for in Test cricket.
Miraz also followed the suit of Liton by attacking but he too couldn’t survive long. The extra bounce did the trick but umpire turned down the appeal of Maharaj who reviewed the decision successfully to take the scalp of Miraz.
Maharaj then went off seventh heaven like the first Test, taking the wicket of Syed Khaled Ahmed before Harmer brought an end to the Bangladeshi innings, by trapping Taijul Islam leg-before for duck.
Earlier, Sarel Erwee and Wiaan Mulder have been withdrawn from the ongoing Test after contracting Covid-19. The pair were tested on fourth day morning of the Test, and returned positive results. They have been replaced by Khaya Zondo, who is on Test debut, and Glenton Stuurman. But no one had to come on action.
South Africa, who opted to bat first, put up 453 before being all out in the first innings with Maharaj hammering 84. Dean Elgar made 70, Temba Bavuma added 67 while Keegan Petersen contributed 64.
Bangladesh were wrapped up for 217 and were still 37 runs behind to avoid following but South Africa chose to bat second time. The hosts declared the second innings on 176-6, setting a 413-run target for Bangladesh to win the game.
However, Maharaj fired with the cherry also to force Bangladesh finish the tour in disappointing fashion after winning their historic first ever ODI series on South African soul.
