South Africa defeated Bangladesh by an innings and 273 runs and completed a 2-0 Test series sweep, with standout performances from Kagiso Rabada and Keshav Maharaj. Bangladesh suffered heavy blows, culminating in 16 wickets lost on the final day, marking their second worse defeat in Test history.
South Africa achieved a resounding victory against Bangladesh, winning by an innings and 273 runs within just three days, thereby completing a clean sweep of the two-Test series. On the third day, Bangladesh experienced significant turmoil, losing 16 wickets, ultimately suffering their second most severe defeat in Test cricket history, only surpassed by their innings and 310 runs loss to the West Indies in 2002. In response to South Africa’s formidable score of 575 runs declared, Bangladesh was bowled out for 159 shortly after the lunch break, leading to a follow-on. They were then dismissed again for 143 in just 44 overs. Fast bowler Kagiso Rabada made a notable contribution to South Africa’s dominant performance, capturing five wickets for 37 runs in the first innings, while left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj mirrored his efforts with figures of five for 59 in the second innings. After securing their first Test victory on the subcontinent since 2014 with a seven-wicket win in the first match, South Africa maintained their momentum in the second. Beginning day three at 38 runs for four wickets, Bangladesh quickly descended to 48 for eight with Rabada claiming his 15th five-wicket haul in Tests. A resilient ninth-wicket partnership worth 103 runs between Mominul Haque and Taijul Islam offered a temporary respite, with Mominul scoring a commendable 82 runs and Taijul contributing 30 runs before the innings concluded. With a substantial first-innings lead of 416 runs, South Africa enforced the follow-on and efficiently dismissed Bangladesh in less than two sessions. Senuran Muthusamy recorded an impressive career-best bowling performance with figures of four for 45, complementing Maharaj’s efforts excellently. While No. 10 batter Hasan Mahmud remained not out at 38 and captain Najmul Hossain Shanto scored 36, Bangladesh’s batting lineup faltered under pressure, largely due to their own reckless shot selection. Following a fortunate escape against Rabada in the second innings, Bangladesh’s batting order collapsed against South African spin bowlers. Dane Paterson took the first wicket, dismissing Shadman Islam for 6, echoing his first-innings duck. Muthusamy’s dismissal of Mahmudul Hasan Joy for 11 marked the continuation of Bangladesh’s struggles. Mominul Haque’s attempt to assert dominance against Maharaj resulted in a duck upon his return to the crease. Furthermore, Muthusamy’s trap of Mushfiqur Rahim for 2 extended Rahim’s barren run of ten innings without a half-century following an impressive score of 191 against Pakistan in August. Despite Shanto’s counterattacking attempts, Muthusamy and Maharaj consistently claimed wickets, placing Bangladesh at risk of a total below 100 runs. Muthusamy’s delivery that turned sharply to dismiss Shanto demonstrated the effectiveness of South African bowling on an unforgiving surface. Although debutant Mahidul Islam managed 29 runs alongside some aggressive batting from Hasan Mahmud, the tail quickly faltered, with Maharaj and Muthusamy dismissing the remaining batsmen to secure the dismissal of Bangladesh.
The recent Test series between South Africa and Bangladesh highlighted the skill difference between the teams, with South Africa delivering a dominating performance. The win marked South Africa’s successful return to subcontinental conditions, showcasing their bowlers’ abilities, particularly in exploiting vulnerabilities in the Bangladeshi batting lineup. Bangladesh’s struggles reverberate with their historical performance, reflecting challenges faced against strong bowling attacks and the need for improvement in their technical play, especially when faced with spin. This defeat adds to Bangladesh’s history of heavy losses in Test cricket, reinforcing issues that have plagued their team under pressure, particularly in the latter stages of innings. South Africa’s decisive win enables them to continue building momentum as they approach upcoming international fixtures.
In conclusion, South Africa’s victory over Bangladesh, concluded by an innings and 273 runs, not only secured a 2-0 series triumph but also underscored the significant challenges faced by the Bangladeshi team in adapting to conditions on the subcontinent and countering high-quality bowling attacks. Rabada and Maharaj’s exceptional bowling performances proved instrumental in dismantling the Bangladeshi batting lineup, while Muthusamy’s contributions further emphasized the depth of South Africa’s bowling arsenal. As Bangladesh looks to improve, the lessons from this series will be crucial for their development in the international Test arena.
Original Source: www.business-standard.com
