Proteas leave Tigers reeling at Senwes Park

South Africa overcame the duel handicaps of losing their bowling spearhead, Morne Morkel, with a side strain and a substantial amount of time to bad weather to push strongly for victory over Bangladesh on the fourth day of the first Test at Senwes Park on Sunday.
Being well aware of the inclement weather in the vicinity, captain Faf du Plessis and Temba Bavuma led a determined to drive to lift the scoring rate in the Proteas second innings after the early loss of Hashim Amla’s (28) wicket.
The pair were largely responsible for an impressive 149 runs being scored in the morning session without further loss at a rate of more than 5 to the over.
Their final stand was worth 142 runs in just 29 overs with Du Plessis making 81 and Bavuma 71.
There were a few lusty blows from Keshav Maharaj (19 not out) before Du Plessis applied the declaration, setting the Tigers a target of 424 with more than three sessions to get the ten wickets.
The Tiger certainly bowled better in the second innings than they did on the first with left-arm seamer Mustifizur Rahman impressive in compiling figures of 2-30 in 11 overs while part-timer Mominul Haque took three wicket with his slow left-armers.
Morkel then gave the Proteas an irresistible surge towards victory as he took two wickets in the opening over of the innings and would have had a third had he not overstepped the crease when he castled the visiting captain, Mushfiqur Raheem.
The lanky seamer first bowled Tamim Iqbal with peach of a delivery and then trapped Mominul lbw, although replays showed the ball would be missing leg stump.
Mushfiqur (16 not out) went on to survive until the tea break which turned out to be the end of the day’s play as well but he lost a key partner in the final over when left-arm spinner Maharaj had Imrul Kayes (32) caught by Quinton de Kock behind the stumps.
It left Bangladesh with more than a mountain to climb at 49/3 and, even allowing for the probable loss of Morkel for the rest of the game, they still have enough other trump cards to play.
This applies particularly to Maharaj who has posed enormous problems now that the pitch is finally starting to display some wear and tear.
Latest
-
News
Jonathan Trott warns England not to get ‘too desperate’ against India spinners
The duo have taken a combined 42 wickets in the series so far.
-
News
Darren Gough fears England could be on the end of another hiding by India
Gough knows all about two-day Test wins.
-
News
Chris Silverwood hopes England batsmen can learn from quickfire third-Test loss
Silverwood would not be drawn into criticising the pitch.
-
News
England players clash online over Alex Hartley’s social media comments
Hartley advertised England Women’s one-day international with New Zealand by referencing the men’s third Test defeat inside two days to India.
-
News
Nat Sciver excels as England wrap up series win in New Zealand
Sciver claimed three for 26 and hit 63.
-
News
Joe Root invites ICC to make own judgement on Ahmedabad pitch
England were beaten by 10 wickets to go 2-1 down in the series.
-
News
It was nice to bat on – Rohit Sharma defends pitch after India seal two-day win
The hosts thrashed England by 10 wickets in Ahmedabad.
-
News
Charlotte Edwards elected as first female president of the PCA
The former England captain takes over from Graham Gooch at the Professional Cricketers’ Association.
-
News
Joe Root refuses to blame pitch for England’s quickfire defeat in Ahmedabad
It was the shortest match since 1935 in terms of balls bowled.
-
News
7 Tests with the most premature endings since 2000
A turning wicket caused chaos for batsmen on both sides as England’s first-innings collapse for 112 set the tone.