e-News® | The NEWS Company…CHITTAGONG, July 22, 2015 : A brilliant batting display by opener Mahmudullah and Tamim Iqbal lift Bangladesh from certain batting debacle in the rain-hit second day of the first Test of National Polymar two-match Test series at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium. The duo shared in a third-wicket stand of 89, took the Tigers to less than 100 runs of South Africa’s first-innings total before rain ruined their chances of pressing towards a lead and the host finished the second day with 179 for 4 in 67 overs at stumps, after they resumed the first innings with overnight score of 7 for no loss.
Skipper Mushfiqur Rahim and Shakib Al Hasan kept their wicket intact for the third day’s play with 16 and 1 runs respectively. Only 42 minutes of play were possible in the third session after a heavy shower, which abated for long enough for South Africa to bowl a ball, forced an early end to the day. After a 46-run opening stand Imrul Kayes was the first wicket to fall when the Bangladeshi opener lost his balance, nearly fell over and was stumped down the leg-side. Stian van Zyl’s delivery was drifting down leg, Imrul tried to flick it away but failed to make contact. Imrul’s stay at the wicket lasted 73 balls, and he scored 26 with three boundaries to his name.
Dependable batsman Mominul Haque’s (6) also lasted a little when he tried to cut a flat, quick delivery from Harmer and saw the off-stump knocked back to his disappointment. Later, local boy Tamim then paired a 89-run stand with Mahmudullah for the 3rd wicket partnership that somehow consolidated Bangladesh’s innings after the loss of two quick wickets earlier in the match. The left hander Tamim reached his first Test fifty against South Africa scoring a patient 57-run off 129-ball with the help of three boundaries.
Bangladesh lost the wicket of Mahmudullah just after the tea break. The right handed batsman Mahmudullah, who played a patient knock with 67 runs off 138-ball, was looking comfortable against the Protease strong bowling attacks as he was supposed to play a big innings today, but was sent back into the pavilion before trapped leg before wicket by pacer Philander delivery.
Dean Elgar, Van Zyl, Vernon Philander and Simon Harmer took one wicket each conceding 6, 13, 22 and 59 runs respectively. Earlier South Africa dismissed their first innings at 248 runs.
