Bangladesh batter Mehidy Hasan Miraz narrowly missed his second Test century by just three runs during the first Test against South Africa in Mirpur on Thursday, October 24. Pacer Kagiso Rabada dismissed him in the 90th over, taking his sixth wicket of the innings and ninth of the match.
Rabada bowled a sharp ball on the off-stump, cramping Mehidy for room. Attempting to guide the ball over the slips, Mehidy edged it to third slip, where Wian Mulder completed the catch. His dismissal was a major blow for Bangladesh, as Mehidy had been one of the few resilient players in their lineup.
A Resilient Knock Amid Collapse
Mehidy entered the crease when Bangladesh was struggling at 106/5, trailing by around 100 runs. His innings showcased a mix of grit and aggression, facing 191 deliveries and hitting 10 boundaries and a six. Despite the pressure from South Africa’s relentless bowling attack, particularly Rabada, Mehidy kept Bangladesh in the game with his solid performance.
However, after losing partners at the other end, he fell while attempting to accelerate the scoring. Mehidy’s dismissal as the 10th and final wicket left Bangladesh with a total of 307, setting South Africa a modest target of 106 runs.
South Africa in Control for Victory
South Africa wasted no time chasing down the target, reaching 42 runs in less than 10 overs. Openers Aiden Markram and Tony de Zorzi scored quickly, putting pressure on Bangladesh’s bowlers. Though Taijul Islam managed to dismiss Markram in the 10th over, South Africa had already halved the required runs by that point. The Test match seemed to be heading for a straightforward victory for South Africa, allowing them to maintain their 22-year unbeaten streak against Bangladesh in Test cricket.
With South Africa firmly in control and only a handful of runs needed, the outcome of the match seemed inevitable. Despite Mehidy Hasan Miraz’s valiant efforts with the bat, Bangladesh’s struggles against Rabada’s devastating bowling and their inability to capitalize on partnerships left them vulnerable. South Africa’s aggressive approach in the final innings highlighted their dominance, ensuring they would comfortably secure the win and extend their long-standing Test supremacy over Bangladesh.
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