South Africa Dismantle Bangladesh For Lowest First Innings Total At Home

Bangladesh's Taijul Islam (L) and Hasan Mahmud walk back to the pavilion at the end of their first innings during the first day of the first Test cricket against South Africa at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka

South Africa skittled Bangladesh for 106 on day one of the first of the two-match Test series in Mirpur.

After being asked to field first, South Africa bowlers put a clinical performance to bowl out Bangladesh for 106. The hosts were rocked by an early onslaught from South Africa’s pace attack.

In a new-ball burst, Wiaan Mulder gave South Africa the first breakthrough by dismissing opener Shadman Islam for a duck before eliminating Mominul Haque (4) and captain Najmul Hossain Shanto (7) cheaply, reducing Bangladesh to 21-3.

His partner-in-crime, Kagiso Rabada, joined the party by castling Mushfiqur Rahim’s stumps for a 20-ball 11. In the process, Rabada became the quickest to 300 Test wickets in terms of ball bowled (11,818). Rabada's strike rate of 39.2 is the best among the 39 bowlers to reach the landmark.

Rabada soon made it 301 Test wickets after removing Liton Das for one, thanks to a spectacular catch from a diving Tristan Stubbs at gully, and finished the innings with another wicket, taking his tally to 302.

Barring Mahmudul Hasan Joy, who batted for 97 deliveries for his 30, no other Bangladesh batter looked comfortable in the middle. Bangladesh's innings lasted only 40.1 overs, with them succumbing to their lowest-ever first-innings score at home. Rabada, Mulder and Keshav Maharaj took three wickets each, while Dane Piedt picked up one.

CHANGE OF INNINGS 🔄

South Africa strikes early and hard! ⚡
Bangladesh are bowled out for 106 on Day 1.

Time for the Proteas to build a solid lead! 💪🏏🇿🇦 #WozaNawe #BePartOfIt #BANvsSA pic.twitter.com/SZ15SzcJHp
— Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) October 21, 2024

Bangladesh’s lowest total at home came against West Indies in 2002. Today’s performance is their fifth-worst. This was also their fifth-lowest score against South Africa, with their lowest (53) coming in Durban in 2022. 106 is also their fourth-lowest first-innings score at home (irrespective of the toss result).

Lowest first-innings total in home Tests for Bangladesh

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