Brief Scorecard
Bangladesh 1st Innings: All Out 106 in 40.1 Overs (Mahmudul Hasan Joy 30, Taijul Islam 16, Mehidy Hasan Miraz 13, Mushfiqur Rahim 11; Wiaan Mulder 3/22, Kagiso Rabada 3/26, Keshav Maharaj 3/34)
Bangladesh 2nd Innings: All Out 307 in 88.4 Overs (Mehidy Hasan Miraz 87, Jaker Ali Onik 58, Mahmudul Hasan Joy 40, Mushfiqur Rahim 33, Nazmul Hossain Shanto 23; Kagiso Rabada 4/35, Keshav Maharaj 3/105)
South Africa 1st Innings: All Out 308 in 88.4 Overs (Kyle Verreynne 114, Wiaan Mulder 54, Dane Piedt 32, Tony de Zorzi 30, Ryan Rickelton 27, Tristan Stubbs 23; Taijul Islam 5/122, Hasan Mahmud 3/66, Mehidy Hasan Miraz 2/63)
South Africa 2nd Innings: 106/3 in 22 Overs (Tony de Zorzi 40, Tristan Stubbs 30*, Aiden Markram 20; Taijul Islam 3/43)
South Africa won the Test by 7 wickets with more than a day and a half to spare.

When a team wins the toss and elects to bat first but is bowled out for a paltry 106 on its own familiar surface on the first day of a Test match, it cannot expect to win. This is exactly what happened to Bangladesh as they lost the first Test by 7 wickets to South Africa in the first match of the Dutch-Bangla Bank Test series.

The positives that Bangladesh can take from the match were the brilliant fighting innings of 97 by all-rounder Mehidy Hasan, 58 by debutant Jaker Ali Onik, and the usual excellent bowling by Taijul Islam. However, the strategy of preparing a turning track to trap South Africa backfired. Bangladesh now faces the likelihood of another series whitewash. It is hard to see how Bangladesh can beat this South African team. They struggled against the pace of Kagiso Rabada (3/26 and 6/39) and had no answer to Keshav Maharaj's left-arm spin (3/34 and 3/105). A Test win against South Africa seems to remain out of reach for Bangladesh.

Judging by the manner in which the Bangladesh batsmen, except for Mehidy Miraz and Jaker Ali, performed, it can be said with confidence that Bangladesh will struggle to win any Test match against any full-member team in the near future. Perhaps the series win against Pakistan was just a flash in the pan.

Yes, the wicket did seam and turn in the early hours of day one, but top-order batsmen are expected to absorb that pressure. Shadman, Mominul, Shanto, Litton, and Mushfiqur disappointed. There can be no excuse for Bangladesh being bowled out for 106 in the first innings.

Thanks to the conditions, Bangladesh managed to restrict the visitors to 140/6 on day one, but South Africa's young middle order, inspired by a brilliant 114 by Kyle Verreynne and 54 from Wiaan Mulder, led them to an imposing 202-run lead. Taijul's 5/122 showed how much Bangladesh missed Shakib's left-arm spin.

In the second innings, Bangladesh’s top and middle order batted poorly once again, being reduced to 112/6 before Mehidy Miraz (97) and Jaker Ali (58) bravely fought to salvage some pride. The 307 runs Bangladesh scored in the second innings only underscored how their spineless batting in the first innings had brought about their downfall. South Africa’s ace fast bowler Rabada tormented the Bangladesh batsmen, taking 6 wickets in the second innings and 9 in the match.

South Africa cruised to 106/3 in the second innings, winning comfortably by 7 wickets. It is doubtful that Bangladesh can recover quickly enough to bounce back in the second Test. Bangladesh needs to review its options. The top-order batting requires a fresh look. Shadman, Mominul, and Shanto looked very ordinary. Bangladesh should consider playing a second pacer or another left-arm spinner in the second Test.

How can someone educate the BCB that the terrible quality of domestic longer-version cricket needs a complete overhaul if Bangladesh hopes to compete against any quality Test team in the world? There is no shortcut or magic formula for achieving overnight success. Smart teams learn from their mistakes, but Bangladesh does not seem to learn and keeps repeating the same errors.

BDST: 1453 HRS, OCT 24, 2024
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