South Africa defeated Bangladesh by an innings and 273 runs in the second Test, completing a 2-0 series victory. Bangladesh lost 16 wickets on the final day, falling to their second-worst defeat in Test cricket history. Kagiso Rabada and Keshav Maharaj were standout performers, each taking five wickets in the respective innings.
In a remarkable display of cricket prowess, South Africa triumphed over Bangladesh by an innings and 273 runs within a mere three days, effectively completing a 2-0 sweep of the Test series on Thursday. Bangladesh struggled throughout, losing a staggering 16 wickets on the final day, culminating in one of its most significant defeats, second only to the innings and 310 runs loss it suffered against the West Indies in 2002. Responding to South Africa’s commanding declaration at 575-6, the Bangladeshi side was bowled out for 159 shortly after lunch on day three, necessitating the follow-on, during which they were all dismissed again for a mere 143 runs in just 44 overs. The fast bowler Kagiso Rabada was particularly instrumental in South Africa’s emphatic victory, achieving impressive figures of 5 wickets for 37 runs in the first innings. Additionally, left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj contributed significantly with 5 wickets for 59 runs in the second innings. South Africa had previously secured the first Test of the series by seven wickets, marking its first victory on the subcontinent since 2014. On the third day of play, with Bangladesh resuming at 38-4, their situation rapidly deteriorated to 48-8, with Rabada capturing his 15th five-wicket haul in Test cricket. A valiant 103-run partnership for the ninth wicket between Mominul Haque and Taijul Islam provided a brief respite, with Mominul scoring a commendable 82 runs and Taijul adding 30 runs. Leading by 416 runs from the first innings, South Africa opted to enforce the follow-on, and their bowlers quickly dismantled the Bangladeshi batting line-up in less than two sessions. Making their mark in this match, left-arm spinner Senuran Muthusamy achieved a remarkable career-best performance of 4 wickets for 45 runs. In a grim display for the Bangladeshi batters, Hasan Mahmud managed to remain unbeaten on 38 runs, while the captain, Najmul Hossain Shanto, contributed 36 runs. However, injudicious shot selections plagued the batting side, leading to their downfall. Despite facing Rabada without incident initially in the second innings, the Bangladeshi batsmen faltered against the spin attack. Rabada’s new-ball partner, Dane Paterson, was the first to strike, dismissing Shadman Islam for 6 runs. Muthusamy capitalized on this early momentum, dismissing opener Mahmudul Hasan Joy for 11 runs. Mominul Haque, who shone in the first innings, ironically fell for a duck shortly after, attempting to assert dominance over Maharaj’s bowling. Muthusamy further extended the woes of Mushfiqur Rahim, trapping him leg before for just 2 runs, marking a dismal run of ten consecutive innings without a half-century for the latter after a previous score of 191 against Pakistan in August. As Shanto attempted to play aggressively, Muthusamy and Maharaj steadily chipped away at the Bangladeshi batting order, leaving them in danger of succumbing to a total of less than 100 runs. Muthusamy deceived Shanto with a sharp delivery that prompted an inside edge for an early dismissal. Debutant Mahidul Islam scored 29 runs, and Hasan Mahmud played some notable shots to push the total past 100 runs. However, Maharaj swiftly took Mahidul and Nahid Rana’s wickets, completing his 10th five-wicket haul in Test cricket, which ultimately sealed Bangladesh’s fate in the match.
This article discusses the culmination of a Test series between South Africa and Bangladesh, where South Africa not only dominated in individual games but also showcased their prowess in long-format cricket by achieving a resounding victory in the second Test match. The loss marked a significant moment in Bangladeshi cricket history, evidenced by their substantial defeat margin, second only to a previous encounter with the West Indies. The report touches upon the individual performances of key players from South Africa, particularly Kagiso Rabada and Keshav Maharaj, highlighting their contributions to the series outcome, while also detailing Bangladesh’s struggles against quality bowling, especially in the spin department.
In summary, South Africa’s comprehensive victory over Bangladesh by an innings and 273 runs in the second Test solidified their dominance in the series, winning 2-0. The match highlighted outstanding performances from South African bowlers, particularly Kagiso Rabada and Keshav Maharaj, who were pivotal in dismantling the Bangladeshi batting order. Conversely, Bangladesh’s inability to contend with the fast and spin bowling, coupled with poor shot selection, led to a disheartening defeat, emphasizing the need for improvement in their Test cricket approach moving forward.
Original Source: www.business-standard.com
