Putting behind their ignominious defeat in the first Test, Bangladesh are keen to hit back in style as they take on the hosts South Africa for the second and final game of the two-match series on Friday at Port Elizabeth.
The match begins at 2 PM (Bangladesh Time). Bangladesh lost the first Test by 220 runs after being wrapped up for 53 runs in their fourth innings, which was their second lowest total in a Test innings, behind their 43 against West Indies in 2018.
Bangladesh came into the first Test high on confidence, following their first ever Test win against New Zealand and a 2-1 win in an ODI series on South African soil.
But despite being wrapped up ignominiously, Bangladesh refused to give up the hopes, knowing that they could have won the match if a few things would have gone in their favour. They in fact battled with the home side neck-to-neck until the last half-an-hour on the fourth day.
South Africa consigned Bangladesh to defeat with their spin attack, something which is rare for a country known for its fast bowling resources. Though South Africa didn’t get their entire first choice pace attack, no one even imagined their spinners-Simon Harmer and Keshav Maharaj stood tall to give Bangladesh a nightmare.
It was so disappointing for Bangladesh that captain Mominul Haque said it was a crime to give spinners wicket on foreign soil.
Maharaj and Harmer, who played his first Test since 2015 combined took 14 Bangladeshi wickets-the second-most by South African spinners in a home Test and the most since readmission.
Bangladesh’s fourth innings performance was so much disappointing that it overshadowed a wonderful bowling performance from their fast bowlers.
Bangladesh’s three-pronged pace attack-Syed Khaled Ahmed, Ebadot Hossain and Taskin Ahmed, who fought off a shoulder injury did fairly well and outsmarted South African pace bowlers.
Bangladesh will be without the service of Taskin Ahmed as he was ruled out of the second Test and had already returned to the country due to his shoulder injury.
Opener Shadman Islam who made single digit score in both innings is almost sure to be axed. He in fact found a place in the first Test due to the sudden stomach upset of Tamim Iqbal. The senior opener however will return to the second game to open the innings with Mahmudul Hasan Joy who became first Bangladeshi batter to hit a Test century against South Africa.
