South Africa vs Bangladesh, 1st Test: 5 Talking Points

South Africa begin their mega home season by thumping Bangladesh in a one-sided encounter in first of the two-match Test series. The visitors never looked settled in the middle during their second innings and were bowled out for a paltry total of 90 and lost the game by a whopping 333 runs. Surprisingly, they succumbed to the left-arm spin of Keshav Maharaj as he scalped 7 wickets in the match. The overcast conditions over the last couple of days did not help the cause of visitors either.

Earlier in the match, the Proteas scored a mammoth total of 496 after being invited to bat first. Bangladesh, in reply, were impressive but could not take their score beyond 320 and conceded the decisive lead of 176 in the first innings which made sure they would be chasing leather in their second essay. However, their bowlers tried to stage a spirited comeback by picking three quick wickets but could not continue the good work.

Here we bring you the 5 talking points of the game:

1. Dean Elgar and Amla pile on the agony of the visitors

Dean Elgar and the debutant Aiden Markram started off cautiously at the top on a flat deck. Both added 196 for the first wicket as the latter fell short of his century by 3 runs. Hashim Amla joined Elgar and continued to feast on the wayward bowling of Bangladeshi bowlers. They scored huge centuries in the process and added a whopping 215 runs for the second wicket. Elgar missed out on his double century by just a solitary run but played superbly for his 199 runs. Amla too was at his fluent best and scored 137 runs before being dismissed by Shafiul Islam.

2. Bangladesh batsmen fail to convert starts

After conceding 496 in the first innings, Bangladesh needed to get close to the total posted by their opposition. But they lost two quick wickets at the top as the openers were sent packing. The middle order tried to restore some semblance to the innings. They were partly successful in doing that as the skipper Mushfiqur Rahim and Mominul Haque added 67 runs for the third wicket stand. All the middle order batsmen got starts but none of them could convert them into a big score. The highest scorer was Mominul Haque who made 77 and Mahmudullah announced his return to Test cricket with a gritty 66.

3. Temba Bavuma and Du Plessis extend the lead

The hosts earned a decisive 176 run leading by bowling the visitors out for 320. But Mustafizur and Co. hit back gamely by picking three wickets in quick time. But Temba Bavuma and the captain Faf Du Plessis consolidated and made sure the advantage was not given away. They counter-attacked and snuffed all the energy of the opposition bowlers. Du Plessis, in particular, was more aggressive and scored 81 off just 101 deliveries with 6 fours and a solitary six. Bavuma on the other hand, made 71 runs with 7 fours as the duo added 132 runs for the wicket and extended the lead for their side.

4. Bangladesh collapse in the second innings

The Proteas declared on 247/6 in their second innings and the visitors faced a daunting target of 423 and almost 4 sessions to go with some rain around. But they got off to a worst possible start as Tamim and Mominul were snaffled by Morne Morkel in the very first over. The Tigers from then on never looked convinced on the wicket and crumbled under pressure. They had 7 wickets to survive on the final day but lost all the remaining wickets by adding just 41 more runs. The meek surrender was never expected from them but they did so and now lag the series by 0-1.

5. Keshav Maharaj stars with the ball

The left -arm spinner Keshav Maharaj has become the leader of the spin attack now for Proteas albeit in Tests. He trumped the Bangladesh batsmen who are considered to be the best against the spinners one after the other. He was instrumental in the first innings and snapped the key wickets of Rahim and Mominul who were threatening. While defending the huge total, he was at his best as he tossed up the ball beautifully and picked up 4 wickets to make it 7 in the match. He was wily with his line and lengths and was the main reason for the collapse of the visitors.