SA v BAN 1st Test, Day 3 Review: Bangladesh allow South Africa a handy first innings lead

Mominul and Tamim took guard to initiate the proceedings on the day for the visitors. They had 127 runs on the board against three wickets, though still a long way from clearing off the deficit. Just 9 overs into the day Bangladesh lost their most consistent batsman Tamim who edged one behind the wicket and Quinton de Kock took a brilliant catch to hand Andile Phehlukwayo.

Mahmudullah who had a lot to prove with the bat this time then got into the act with Mominul as they stabilised the innings and gave them direction towards a score of substance. The duo added 69 runs together before Mominul was out on a Keshav Maharaj delivery, it was a soft dismissal as he was caught by debutant Markram at short leg for 77.

Sabbir Rahman also got a start showed some application as well but was castled by Dane Olivier for 30. All this while Mahmudullah looked solid but his 124-ball stay ended when he chopped on a Morne Morkel delivery back onto his stumps for 66. That was it, the backbone of their innings was broken and now it was a matter of time before the South African bowlers ran through the tail.

Cleaned up the tail

They allowed Bangladesh to add just another 15 runs to the total before bowling them out for 320 in 89.1 overs. The Tigers lost their last five wickets for just 28 runs and that ensured the Proteas a handy lead. Keshav was the pick of the bowlers for the Proteas as he picked 3 wickets, while the new-ball duo of Morkel and Rabada shared a couple a piece. Olivier and Phehlukwayo settled with a wicket each.

Bangladesh gave South Africa a 176-run lead but they didn’t let the hosts dominate in the second innings. With the new ball in hand, the Bangladeshi pacers made life difficult for the pair of Dean Elgar and Aiden Markram who had a fabulous partnership in the first innings didn’t quite get going this time.

Shafiul Islam got one to curve into Elgar and hit him in front on the pads, he thought it would move down the leg-stump and went for a DRS but the result was three reds and he was on his way back having consumed a review.

Three overs later Markram had an opportunity to take a review himself when he was given out caught behind off Mustafizur Rahman. The ball passed his bat while it hit the ground and that was the sound everyone heard but he walked off. Hashim Amla and Temba Bavuma then played out the last 5 overs scoring 20 runs without much fuss and at the end of the day, they lead by 230 runs with 8 wickets in hand.

The 4th Day will be the most important for both the teams and probably the first innings will set the tone up for the outcome of the match.

Brief Scores:

South Africa: 496 for 3 dec and 54 for 2 (Hashim Amla 17*, Temba Bavuma 3*)

Bangladesh: 320 (Mominul Haque 77, Mahmudullah 66; Keshav Maharaj 3/92)