South Africa defeated Bangladesh by an innings and 273 runs in Chattogram, achieving a record Test win. With this victory, they remain in contention for the World Test Championship final, moving to fourth in the standings. Key performances included De Zorzi, Stubbs, and Mulder with the bat, and Rabada, Maharaj, and Muthusamy with the ball. Captain Aiden Markram expressed pride in the team’s achievement, emphasizing their drive towards the finals.
In a commanding display in Chattogram, South Africa achieved a historic victory over Bangladesh by an innings and 273 runs, thereby securing their position in contention for the World Test Championship (WTC) final. This match, which concluded within just three days, marked South Africa’s record Test triumph, surpassing their previous best of an innings and 254 runs, also achieved against Bangladesh, in 2017. South Africa showcased their dominance with a formidable innings of 575-6 declared, featuring significant contributions from De Zorzi (177 runs), Stubbs (106 runs), and Mulder (105 not out). Responding to South Africa’s formidable total, Bangladesh struggled, managing only 159 runs in their first innings, with Mominul Haque emerging as the top scorer with 82 runs. The South African fast bowler Kagiso Rabada excelled with figures of 5-37. Following the follow-on, Bangladesh was dismissed for 143 runs in their second innings in merely 43.4 overs, largely due to the efforts of spinners Keshav Maharaj and Senuran Muthusamy, who claimed 5-59 and 4-45 respectively. This comprehensive victory also ensured a 2-0 series sweep for the Proteas, marking an important milestone as they achieved their ninth innings victory over Bangladesh in just 16 Tests. Captain Aiden Markram expressed his pride in the team’s performance, stating that the quest for WTC final qualification remains a significant motivating factor. With this latest win, South Africa has climbed to fourth position in the World Test Championship standings, and securing victories in their forthcoming home Test series against Sri Lanka and Pakistan will be crucial for their chances of reaching the final at Lord’s in June.
The World Test Championship is an international Test cricket championship organized by the International Cricket Council (ICC). Its primary purpose is to add context to Test match series and incentivize consistent performance across different series and match conditions. South Africa’s recent victory against Bangladesh is pivotal in their pursuit of qualifying for the final, which underscores the importance of each Test match within the championship framework. Historically, South Africa possesses a strong record against Bangladesh, which reflects their established dominance in Test cricket.
In summary, South Africa’s record victory against Bangladesh not only highlights their cricketing prowess but also reinforces their ambitions in the World Test Championship. With significant individual performances and cohesive teamwork, the Proteas have positioned themselves favorably as they seek to secure a place in the championship final, relying on forthcoming matches to enhance their standing further.
Original Source: www.bbc.com
