Bangladesh vs South Africa: Bangladesh Builds 65-Run Lead Against South Africa on Rain-Interrupted Day 3 in Dhaka Test

On the third day of the Dhaka Test between Bangladesh and South Africa, rain interrupted play after the lunch break, with Bangladesh leading by 65 runs at 267 for 7. A resilient performance by Mehidy Hasan Miraz, unbeaten on 77*, helped the hosts recover after a tough start to the day, where Kagiso Rabada (4-35) and Keshav Maharaj troubled the Bangladeshi batting order.

Bangladesh resumed Day 3 at 106 for 3, still trailing South Africa’s first innings total of 308 by over 200 runs. However, the first hour of play didn’t go their way, with South African pacer Rabada striking twice in the morning to dismiss Mahmudul Hasan Joy and veteran Mushfiqur Rahim. This double blow put Bangladesh under significant pressure, with the score slipping to 112 for 6, still 90 runs behind South Africa.

Rabada’s Early Morning Impact

Rabada was in exceptional form, dismissing Joy (40 off 92 balls) who edged a wide delivery to David Bedingham at first slip. Rabada’s relentless pace once again worked its magic as he repeated his first-innings dismissal of Mushfiqur Rahim. The delivery pierced through Rahim’s defenses, crashing into the middle stump, reducing Bangladesh to a precarious position. Rahim was out bowled in both innings, highlighting the difficulties Bangladesh faced against Rabada’s pace.

Keshav Maharaj added to Bangladesh’s woes soon after by dismissing Litton Das, who was caught behind by a fine edge off the shoulder of his bat. At 112 for 6, Bangladesh appeared to be in deep trouble, with a significant risk of losing by an innings.

Mehidy and Jaker’s Gritty Partnership

With South Africa’s bowlers on top, Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Jaker Ali came together to form a crucial seventh-wicket partnership that changed the course of the game. They batted sensibly, managing to stem the flow of wickets and inching Bangladesh closer to a lead. While Mehidy anchored the innings, Jaker played an equally important role, reaching his half-century in the tenth over of the session. He showed his skill against the spinners, especially when he turned offspinner Dane Piedt for a boundary to bring up his fifty.

Jaker’s gritty innings of 58, which included seven boundaries, finally came to an end when he was trapped lbw by Keshav Maharaj. He tried to turn a delivery to the leg side but was beaten by Maharaj’s flight and turn. Despite a subdued appeal from South Africa, the umpire raised his finger. Although Bangladesh opted for a review, it upheld the original decision as the ball was shown to be clipping leg stump. This brought an end to Jaker’s 111-ball vigil at the crease, but his knock was vital in guiding Bangladesh to a competitive position.

Maharaj almost struck again in the same over, this time against Nayeem Hasan, but a review saved the new batter. Nayeem had missed a sweep shot, but the review showed the ball was missing the stumps. Soon after, at around 1:40 PM local time, rain began to fall, halting play and providing some respite for Bangladesh.

Mehidy’s Crucial Knock

At the other end, Mehidy Hasan Miraz continued to play a calm and composed knock. He brought up his half-century before lunch, and along with Jaker, guided Bangladesh past South Africa’s first innings total early in the second session. His resilience was key to keeping the hosts in the game, and his knock was studded with well-placed boundaries that frustrated the South African bowlers.

Mehidy, a lower-order all-rounder, has consistently demonstrated his ability to bat with the tail, and this innings was another example of his fighting spirit. He capitalized on loose deliveries, rotating the strike effectively and keeping the scoreboard ticking over. His contribution allowed Bangladesh to reach a lead of 65 runs, with three wickets still in hand when rain stopped play.

South Africa’s Bowling Dominance

South Africa’s bowlers, led by Kagiso Rabada, maintained their pressure throughout the day. Rabada’s pace and accuracy were lethal, as he consistently troubled the Bangladesh batters, particularly with his ability to bowl wicket-taking deliveries. His figures of 4-35 were a testament to his dominance, with two of those wickets coming in the space of just four overs early in the morning.

Keshav Maharaj provided excellent support with his left-arm spin, picking up two wickets and constantly probing the Bangladesh batters with flight and turn. Although South Africa managed to dismiss Jaker Ali, Mehidy Hasan’s unbeaten 77* and Bangladesh’s lead of 65 runs have kept the match finely poised.

Looking Ahead

As the match heads into Day 4, Bangladesh will be looking to extend their lead and set a challenging target for South Africa. With Mehidy still at the crease and three wickets in hand, the hosts will hope to add crucial runs when play resumes. On the other hand, South Africa will be eager to wrap up the Bangladesh innings quickly and chase down any target that is set. The weather could play a crucial role, as more rain is forecast, which might impact the match result.

In summary, Day 3 of the Dhaka Test saw a determined fightback from Bangladesh after an initial collapse. With rain curtailing play, Mehidy Hasan’s unbeaten 77 and Jaker Ali’s gritty 58 were the highlights of the day, helping the hosts gain a vital lead. As the match heads into its final stages, both teams will be keen to take advantage of any opportunities that arise in what has been a gripping contest.