Chattogram (Bangladesh): South Africa tightened its grip on the second and final Test against Bangladesh on Wednesday thanks to three batters hitting maiden centuries.
Tony de Zorzi struck 177 and Wiaan Mulder made an unbeaten 105 as South Africa declared its first innings at 575-6 on Day 2. That came after Tristan Stubbs made 106 on the opening day.
The visitors then took absolute command of the game by reducing Bangladesh to 38-4 at stumps, leaving the hosts in danger of following on.
Left-arm spinner Taijul Islam claimed 5/198, his second straight five-wicket haul in the series, but that mattered little as De Zorzi and David Bedingham continued their good work after resuming at 307-2.
They kept the Bangladesh bowlers at bay by playing a variety of shots, especially sweep and reverse sweep against the spinners.
Taijul, who took eight wickets in the first test that Bangladesh lost by seven wickets, then triggered a mini collapse as South Africa lost three wickets for just five runs to be reduced to 391-5 from 386-2.
De Zorzi reached 150 from 235 balls, smashing a tossed-up delivery of Tajiul through mid-wicket for a four, but the bowler rattled Bedingham’s stump with a quicker delivery to end a 116-run partnership.
Bedingham, who raised his third fifty off 70 balls, was dismissed on 59. An over later, de Zorzi missed the line to be trapped leg-before. That ended his marathon 269-ball stand, which included 12 fours and four sixes.
Kyle Verreynne, the centurion of the opening Test, also missed a sweep shot to be trapped leg-before for a duck, handing Taijul his 14th five-for.
Pacer Nahid Rana (1/83) further troubled South Africa, dismissing Ryan Rickelton for 12 after he nicked a delivery to wicket-keeper Mahidul Islam.
After taking four wickets for 37 runs, Bangladesh sensed a chance to expose the South African tail, but Mulder and Senuran Muthusamy came up with a steely resolve to further frustrate the hosts.
The declaration came after Mulder, who struck fifty in the side’s seven-wicket victory in the opening Test, completed his century from 150 balls by hitting Taijul Islam for a six over the top.
Mulder and Muthusamy shared 152 runs for the unbeaten seventh-wicket stand. Muthusamy also hit his maiden half-century and remained unbeaten on 68 off 75 with the help of five fours and two sixes.
Fast bowler Kagiso Rabada, who is back at No. 1 in the ICC test rankings, struck twice to reduce Bangladesh to 21-2 in the fifth over, dismissing Shadman Islam for a duck and Zakir Hasan for 2.
His new ball partner Dane Paterson had Mahmudul Hasan (10) caught by Aiden Markram before left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj removed nightwatchman Hasan Mahmud. Mominul Haque was batting on 6 with captain Najmul Hossain Shanto on 4.
