Middle-order batsman Mehidy Hasan Miraz led a remarkable fightback for Bangladesh with an unbeaten 87 on the third day of the first Test against South Africa. His performance transformed a precarious position into a competitive contest.
At the close of play due to bad light on Wednesday at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Bangladesh had scored 283 for seven in their second innings. They were leading South Africa by 81 runs, with three wickets remaining.
Mehidy and Nayeem Hasan, who was not out on 16, will resume play on Thursday, aiming to set South Africa a challenging target on a pitch that has been variable.
Bangladesh, who were 202 runs behind the visitors after the first innings, looked headed for an innings defeat when they lost three early wickets on Wednesday, slumping from their overnight score of 101-3 to 112-6 as Kagiso Rabada grabbed two scalps and Keshav Maharaj claimed the wicket of Litton Das.
Rabada had opener Mahmudul Hasan Joy caught for 40 at first slip in the fifth over of the day and then two balls later clean bowled Mushfiqur Rahim. Litton Das was caught behind by wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne off Maharaj but the original appeal was turned down. South Africa captain Aiden Markram almost ran out of time before requesting a review, which proved successful.
Mehidy and debutant Jaker Ali then offered stiff resistance with an aggressive approach. They put on a 138-run partnership for the seventh wicket to see off Bangladesh’s deficit and provide their side hope of a turnabout in fortunes.
Mehidy reached his half-century in 94 balls, followed by Jaker, who took 104 balls to score 50. Jaker was then dismissed leg before wicket by Maharaj for 58 runs. Rain interrupted play just as South Africa was about to be offered the second new ball, prompting an early tea break. After a lengthy delay, the umpires decided that the light was too poor for South Africa to use their seamers when play resumed.
Surprisingly, the visitors continued with a spin attack instead of taking the bad light, allowing Bangladesh to add 16 runs in five overs before play was called off. The test in Dhaka is the first of a two-match series with the second in Chittagong next week.
