South Africa Dominates Bangladesh in Test Series with Record Win

South Africa crushed Bangladesh by an innings and 273 runs, completing a 2-0 series sweep. Bangladesh was bowled out for 159 and 143, marking South Africa’s biggest Test win by margin. Kagiso Rabada took five wickets in both innings, leading to the victory and earning him player of the series. Bangladesh has yet to win a Test against South Africa in 16 attempts.

In a remarkable display of dominance, South Africa secured a sweeping victory over Bangladesh by an innings and 273 runs, culminating in a 2-0 series triumph. This victory marked South Africa’s most substantial Test win by margin, as the Bangladesh team faltered, scoring 159 in their first innings and collapsing for a mere 143 in their second, thereby conceding the match within three days at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong. The match saw South African speedster Kagiso Rabada shine brightly, claiming five wickets in the first innings, where he dismantled the Bangladesh batting line-up with figures of 5-37. His efforts contributed to a staggering 416-run first innings lead. The Proteas, eager to assert their dominance, enforced the follow-on, further decimating the hosts in their second innings, where spinner Keshav Maharaj excelled with figures of 5-59 while fellow spinner Senuran Muthusamy supported effectively with 4-45. Despite a slight resurgence from Bangladesh, including Mominul Haque’s commendable 82 runs which briefly ignited hope from 48-8 to a 103-run ninth-wicket partnership, the eventual defeat loomed large. Bangladesh concluded their second innings with modest contributions from Najmul Hossain Shanto (36) and Mahidul Islam Ankon (29). South Africa’s first innings was characterized by impressive batting, featuring three players—Tony de Zorzi, Tristan Stubbs, and Wiaan Mulder—who each achieved maiden Test centuries, with De Zorzi ultimately being honored as the player of the match, while Rabada was awarded player of the series. With this victory, South Africa maintained their unbeaten record against Bangladesh in 16 Test matches, and they look forward to further enhancing their prospects for next year’s World Test Championship finale in upcoming Tests against Sri Lanka and Pakistan later this month.

The context surrounding this match is significant in the Test cricket ecosystem, especially considering the performance disparity between South Africa and Bangladesh, a team that has struggled historically against its South African counterparts. Prior to this series, Bangladesh had already lost the first Test by a margin of seven wickets, and their inability to secure a single victory against South Africa over 16 encounters reflects their challenges at the international level. South Africa, meanwhile, is positioning itself strategically ahead of the World Test Championship, indicating their strong competitive stance in the sport.

In summary, South Africa’s emphatic victory over Bangladesh in the second Test not only extends their dominance in their head-to-head encounters but also strengthens their position in international Test cricket ahead of crucial upcoming fixtures. The combination of effective batting and lethal bowling underlines their formidable prowess, setting a high bar for their competitors in future matches.

Original Source: www.aljazeera.com