On the first day, Bangladesh only managed two wickets, both of which were taken by Taijul Islam.
Both Tony de Zorzi and Tristan Stubbs hit their first Test hundreds at Chattogram, marking a turning point for two of South Africa’s top three players. With eight and five Test caps between them, De Zorzi and Stubbs combined for South Africa’s third-highest second-wicket stand in Asia at 201, putting the country in a great position to attempt a series sweep.
In order to help the home assault, they took advantage of batter-friendly circumstances, which included little seam movement, swing, or high bounce, and only faint signs of turn. With little resources at their disposal, Bangladesh’s bowlers were only able to silence South Africa intermittently. Nahid, their tall seamen
The five-man attack’s most impressive player, Rana, hit up to 148 kph but failed to take any wickets. The only bowler to take wickets was Taijul Islam, a left-arm spinner who continued where he left off with a five-for in Mirpur, though Hasan Mahmud may feel unfairly treated. On his way to an undefeated 141, De Zorzi was dropped twice, on 6 and 69.
South Africa got off to a fast start in the morning, with de Zorzi and stand-in captain Aiden Markram scoring 4.6 runs per over in the first hour. When South Africa reached morning drinks on 60 without losing, they each struck four fours and a six. Hasan posed the sole danger by stealing de Zorzi’s
edge with his fourth over’s opening delivery, but rookie wicketkeeper Mahidul Islam was unable to hold on. After then, Bangladesh started spinning in all directions, which helped Taijul succeed. Markram chipped the ball to Mominul Haque at mid-on after moving down the track to a ball that was not as short as he had expected.
Bangladesh was able to recover the scoring pace after Markram was dismissed. Even though Stubbs played himself out, they managed to hold off giving up a boundary for 21 deliveries. Bangladesh renewed the grip after he reverse-swept Mehidy Hasan Miraz behind point, which gave him his first four. Before de Zorzi’s magnificent cover drive reached South Africa’s hundred, another twenty-eight balls were bowled for just fourteen runs. De Zorzi arrived in the over following the break, one run short from a third Test fifty.
South Africa struggled in the afternoon session’s opening exchanges, navigating Rana’s pace and Taijul’s meagre quantities of correct spin while going 91 deliveries between boundaries. Nahid kept to back-of-a-length balls, which were challenging to get away from, and his lengths were better from the larger ones he used in the morning. However, he failed to get a wicket. Mahmud ought to have had something to show for his efforts instead. After lunch, he pulled de Zorzi forward once more and seized the lead, but Shadman Islam missed the opportunity at first slip. Despite this, de Zorzi and South Africa managed to survive a stretch during which they only managed 34 runs in 13 overs For them, things became somewhat more open.
32 runs were scored at a healthier pace during the next eight overs, and Stubbs reached his second Test fifty. After hitting Mehidy over the sightscreen for six, Stubbs gained confidence, and de Zorzi entered the nineties by hitting Taijul over long-on. With a sweep shot off Mehidy via square leg, De Zorzi reached his hundred. The dug out, which included injured captain Temba Bavuma, cheered him on as he celebrated. After Bavuma, De Zorzi is the only other black South African batsman to reach a hundred runs in a Test match.
After tea, Stubbs took 25 of the first 30 deliveries while de Zorzi battled cramping, and he did it with good intentions. His treatment of Mehidy was especially harsh; he reverse-swept him for four to get him close to the nineties and knuckle down, then he charged him twice for six. The two became quieter as De Zorzi found it difficult to run between the wickets, and Stubbs spent
It takes 39 balls to go from 88 to 100. Everyone in the South African camp gave him a standing ovation after he made a single to deep point.
With almost 30 minutes of play remaining in the day, Taijul bowled Stubbs in the following over with a delivery that stayed low. That was interpreted by South Africa as permission to attack. As Bangladesh awaited the second new ball, De Zorzi and David Bedingham batted freely and scored 34 runs in the next six overs. Additionally, Najmul Hossain Shanto, their captain, was absent during that time due to what appeared to be an illness. In his place, Taijul took the lead and immediately took the second new ball as it became accessible. Before the players were dismissed for terrible light, Mehidy bowled one over with it; de Zorzi received the day’s honours.
Only two of South Africa’s specialised batters had played on the subcontinent before this series began, and only one, Markram, had scored a century in Asia. They were further deprived of experience when the other, Bavuma, was forced to miss the series due to an injury. Four hitters who have scored hundreds in the subcontinent are in the starting lineup for the Test and the first day of the series.
