Sports Reporter :
Tigers lost to South Africa (SA) by seven wickets after giving a fight as they scored 307 in their second innings on the fourth day play of the first Test cricket match at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in the capital’s Mirpur, on Thursday.
Electing to bat first, Bangladesh scored 106 in the first innings on the opening day (Monday).
In reply, South Africa piled up a mammoth total of 308 in their first innings on the second day (Tuesday).
Kyle Verreynne hit a superb 114. He was adjudged the Man of the Match for his outstanding innings. Taijul Islam captured five wickets in the space of 122 runs.
Chasing 106 runs to win, South Africa reached the winning spot making exact 106 runs for the loss of three wickets on the fourth day.
Bangladesh resumed their second innings with the over-night score of 283 for the loss of seven wickets.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Nayeem Hasan resumed their second innings with the over-night score of 87 and 16 runs respectively.
Nayeem Hasan could not add any run on the fourth day as he (16) was trapped leg before wicket by Kagiso Rabada when the hosts’ score was 284 for the loss of eight wickets.
Taijul Islam (7) was caught at the second slip by Tristan Stubbs off Wiaan Mulder when Bangladesh’s total was 303 for the loss of nine wickets.
Miraz was a victim of nervous nineties as he was caught at the slip by Wiaan Mulder off Rabada when Bangladesh’s second innings came to an end.
Miraz knocked a sedate 97. His 191-ball innings was studded with 10 fours and a sixer.
Rabada captured more two wickets on the fourth day as he finished his superb spell as 17.5-4-46-6.
Openers Tony de Zorzi and Aiden Markram made a good start putting together 42 runs in the opening stand before Markram (20) was bowled out by Taijul Islam.
Tony was caught at the long-on by Hasan Mahmud off Taijul Islam when the Proteas’ total was 71 for the loss of two wickets.
Tony made 41 from 52 deliveries featuring seven fours.
Taijul struck again as second-down David Bedingham (12) was caught behind by wicketkeeper Litton Das off the left-arm spinner when the touring side’s total was 97 for the loss of three wickets.
Stubbs and Ryan Rickelton helped their side to anchor the victory spot. Stubbs remained unbeaten with 30 runs.
Taijul showed some heroic performance claiming three wickets instead of 43 runs.