Bangladesh Vs South Africa First Test At Stumps on the Third Day

South Africa: 248 All Out ( T Bavuma 54, F du Plessis 48 ,D Elgar 47, Mustafizur Rahman 4/ 37, Jubair  Hossain 3 /53,)  and 61 /0 ( D Elgar 28* and S Van Zyl 37*) 

Bangladesh: 326 All Out ( Mahamudullah Riad 67, Tamim Iqbal 57, Liton K Das 50, Shakib Al Hasan 47,Mushfiqur Rahman 28, Imrul Kayes 26 , Mohammad Shahid 25 , Dale Steyn 3/ 78, SR Hammer 3/ 105 and VD Philander 2/ 40)

Match Report:
Chittagong test is hanging on a balance with honors even at stumps on day three. Dogged batting by Bangladesh against South African quality bowling on a difficult to bat wicket earned them a valuable 78 runs first innings lead .But the determined protean openers wiped out most of the deficit when like the second day stumps were drawn early for weather interruption.

Deal Elgar and S Van Zyl were involved in an unbroken opening partnership of 61. Bangladesh scored 326 replying to South African first innings score of 248 all out.

In the delicately poised match, Bangladesh batted well as a team when 7 of the first 8 batsmen scored 25 or more runs with three scoring half centuries.  Getting in with the bat was difficult and getting going was challenging. It was expected that at least one or two senior professionals would go longer after getting in. But that did not happen. Still cannot under value the batting performance at all.

All batsmen did not get out to quality deliveries. Couple of them got out playing loose strokes but there are no denials that Bangladeshis batted with determination and grit. South Africa with three of the top 10 ICC ranked quality pace bowlers (Steyn, Morkel and Philander) left nothing unturned to dislodge the resolute Bangladeshi determination with all tricks out of their hats. If any two or even one could convert their innings to a three figure Bangladesh lead could score over 100 and Bangladesh could finish with its nose firmly ahead. Only Mominul did not play to his potential but we are sure he can amend when he gets opportunity to bat again.

If this match is not furthered interrupted by rain a result is very likely .But looking at the present state all three possibilities are still there .A good first session on the fourth morning for either team will dictate which direction the traffic will be heading. If Bangladesh can make some early inroads with its bowling varieties, restricting South Africans to a lead of below 250 they will have an opportunity of winning the first ever test against a major test-playing nation. Any lead over 250 will be extremely difficult to overhaul on the last day.

Bangladesh started the day with their two faithful dogs Shakib and Mushfique still guarding their fort at 179/4. But unfortunately Mushfiqur could not continue longer being trapped by Steyn plumb in front for 28.It is for a while now Mushfique is getting in and getting out without making significant contributions. He is the nucleus of Bangladesh batting around which Bangladesh middle order rotates. His departure brought in young Liton Kumar Das playing only in his second test. It was really a testing time for the quality-opening batsman of local cricket. South African pacers tested him with chin music. He looked extremely determined and landed Shakib good assistance in wiping out the deficits.

Liton and Shakib pair played exceedingly well especially in neutralizing the aggression of South African pacers with the second new ball. Solid gold 82 runs sixth wicket partnership not only wiped out the deficit but advanced Bangladesh in front. After playing so well and achieving the distinction of being only the second Bangladeshi after Tamim Iqbal scoring 8000 runs in all three formats of International cricket put together Shakib had a very soft dismissal. In his first lapse of concentration against steady off spinner Hammer he skied his drive to Duminy at 47. But Shakib playing 114 balls for his near fifty already made significant contributions for putting the team in front. The sixth wicket partnership was the feature of the day. The innings could disintegrate; Bangladesh could lose its way after Mushfique departure .Amla kept on rotating his bowling resources in desperate efforts of disintegrating the Bangladesh innings.

Bangladesh had only its tail to play with Liton. Shahid the steadiest Bangladeshi bowler of the test played a little cameo of 25 in 19 deliveries striking four fours and a six.  18 off this came in one over of Hammer.

Liton looked solid all the way disproving the anxieties of playing him ahead of letting Soumya play. His defense against pace bowling was impregnable, his patience and temperament were exemplary. At 20 years age he became the youngest wicket keeper batsman scorning half century against South Africa. Make no mistake, with his wicket keeping ability added to his batting he has come to stay in Bangladesh test squad for a long time. In not too distant future Liton and Soumya may be seen opening batting for Bangladesh.

Steyn, Morkel and Philander are too good a bowler to even top order. Bangladeshi tail enders to hardly deal with their aggressive bowling. Still 326 all out on a difficult wicket and earning 78 runs lead must not be valued in lesser terms. Whatever be the end result,  at more than half way of the test Bangladesh were at drivers seat against the top test playing team of the world.

Steyn finally got three wickets for 78 runs reaching 399 test scalps. World’s premiere fast bowler had to toil for his wickets and earn with some price.  He is just a wicket away from entering into elite club of fast bowlers. Two of his three were tail enders though. But him accounting for Mushfique was the telling blow.

 Off spinner Hammer kept plugging. Bangladeshi batsmen tried to be aggressive against him in efforts of relieving pressure created by the hostile pace attack. Hammer also took 3/105. Philander contributed with 2/ 40. The first two wickets were taken by two opening bowlers Elgar and Van Zyl on the second day.

Before the play was called off early due to weather interfering South African openers threaded an unbroken partnership of 61. There were some edges and near misses, a half chance behind the wicket off luckless Shahid went a begging. The openers had good discipline. Mushfique tried 6 bowlers in 21.1 overs. Steady Shahid still looked the most difficult to get away with his nagging length. Mustafiz created few ooh and aahs.  The match is now wide open with possibilities of win for either side or a draw.

We hope weather will permit this fascinating contest to go down to the wire. The number nine ranked team looks committed against number one in not letting an inch without fight talks a lot about maturing of Bangladesh cricket .Well done Bangladesh whatever be the end result of the test Bangladesh achievement so far deserves high accolades. Few would argue it could be better but whatever has been achieved deserves unqualified praise.

Bangladesh did not collapse against fearsome bowling attack. They are still not out of the match at the start of the fourth day against South Africa is itself an achievement. Both the teams have equal opportunities. It will be test of nerves and energy, test of temperament and commitment. Whichever team can demonstrate better resolve will go ahead and grab the opportunity with both hands. Match is hanging on a balance with Bangladesh having a slight edge as wicket is turning and having some high low. The spinners and Mustafiz can still take the control. Mushfique must keep on attacking and must not put his feet off the pedal too early.

Test cricket changes hue at every session. It is the only format of a match where morning does not always show the day. Is not test cricket the truest image of life and living? With a gripping match like this who says test cricket is dying?

BDST: 0856 HRS, JULY 24, 2015
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