Taijul, Mahmud strike after South Africa fold Bangladesh for 106
Written by I Dig SportsSouth Africa 65 for 2 (Stubbs 23, de Zorzi 19*, Mahmud 1-17) trail Bangladesh 106 (Mahmudul 30, Mulder 3-22, Rabada 3-26, Maharaj 3-34) by 41 runs
Bangladesh fought back with the wickets of South Africa's stand-in captain Aiden Markram and Tristan Stubbs in the second session of the first day's play after being bowled out for just 106 in the first Test. But Tony de Zorzi remained steady and unbeaten on 19 at tea, leaving South Africa 41 runs behind the hosts' first-innings score on a surface that has also helped spinners to grip and turn the ball.
Taijul and Nayeem Hasan put on 26 runs from 46 balls for the ninth wicket - also the highest stand of the innings - but Rabada came back in the second session to remove Nayeem. Bangladesh added 46 runs and lost four wickets post lunch.
Earlier in the day, Mulder and Rabada utilised the grass cover on the surface for extra movement off the surface while also finding early swing to leave Bangladesh reeling at 60 for 6. Mulder was exceptional in his opening spell, taking three wickets. Rabada picked up two in the morning to cross 300 in Tests. Maharaj had Mehidy Hasan Miraz lbw at the stroke of lunch to hurt Bangladesh further.
Mulder gave the visitors the first breakthrough off his fourth delivery when Shadman Islam chased a full-length outswinger wide of off stump to nick it behind. His next over, though, started dramatically, when South Africa reviewed the first ball for lbw against Mominul Haque. It was a full-length ball around leg stump that seamed in to rap the pads low after he played the wrong line. As UltraEdge showed a gap between bat and pad, and ball-tracking wasn't available due to internet issues, he remained not out as per the on-field umpire's decision. However, two balls later, Mominul nicked one to the wicketkeeper to depart for 6.
Mulder's third wicket was set up nicely. After bowling the first four deliveries from over the wicket to Shanto, he came around the wicket for the fifth ball. The change immediately worked, with Shanto, trying to work it through midwicket against the angle, getting a tame leading edge to Maharaj.
Rabada, after bowling four overs in his first spell, came back and dismissed Mushfiqur Rahim straightaway when he got one to zip through the gap between his bat and pad to rattle the stumps. A few overs later, he hit the hard length and forced Litton Das to edge one to a flying Stubbs at gully.