Photo : Collected
Fast bowler Kagiso Rabada tormented Bangladesh with a fiery spell that left them at troublesome 137-8 at lunch on Day 3 of the second and final cricket Test against South Africa at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram today.
Rabada's 5-37 put Bangladesh on danger of being all out below 50 but a resistance from Mominul Haque rescued them from the ultimate shamble.
Taijul Islam gave him the ably support to deny Rabada doing further carnage as he and Mominul combined for an 89-run partnership for the unbeaten ninth wicket partnership, going into the lunch.
At the first interval of the day, Mominul was batting on 74 with Taijul on 18.
Bangladesh are still trailing by 438 runs and they needed 339 runs more to avoid the follow-on.
South Africa declared its first innings at 575-6, riding on three batters hitting maiden centuries.
But more than Rabada, it was the blunder of Bangladeshi batters that sank them. Most of the batters failed to stick to the process, playing their shots half-heartedly to dig their own graveyards.
Bangladesh resumed the day at 38-4 and Rabada struck in just fourth over of the day as captain Najmul Hossain Shanto poked a length delivery tentatively to Kyle Verriynne for 9.
In the next over, Dane Paterson dismissed Mushfiqur Rahim for duck with a fuller length delivery.
After scoring an epic 191 against Pakistan, Mushfiqur Rahim had gone nine innings without any half-century.
The situation went from bad to worse as Rabada struck twice, getting the better of Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Mahidul Islam in three deliveries.
Miraz pushed a delivery outside off half-heartedly to be out for 1 while Mahidul on debut was out for duck, after offering no shot against a delivery that nipped back sharply.
Mominul, however, proved the pitch is still good to bat on by playing his shots effortlessly. He struck eight fours and one six in 97 balls so far.
Messenger/Disha
