Keshav Maharaj’s marathon spell guided the South Africa cricket team to a seven-wicket win in the first Test against Bangladesh at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka on Thursday.
Maharaj, who plays for the Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League, picked up 6/139 in the match to help the Proteas to a 1-0 lead in the two-match Test series. He bowled spells of 3/34 and 3/105 to keep Bangladesh on a tight leash throughout the match.
Bowling first, pacers Kagiso Rabada and Wiaan Mulder got into the act straight away reducing Bangladesh to 45/5 within the first 20 overs. Just as Bangladesh were showing signs of recovery, Maharaj trapped Mehidy Hasan Miraz leg before, at the stroke of lunch, for his first wicket of the match.
The left-arm spinner then deceived debutant Jaker Ali, who was caught short of his crease, with the host reeling at 76/8. Introduced in the ninth over, Maharaj bowled unchanged from one end and cleaned up Taijul Islam in his 17th over to signal the end of the Bangladesh innings at 106.
Maharaj ended with figures of 3/34 while Kagiso Rabada, who reached 300 wickets in Test cricket, and Wiaan Mulder also picked up three wickets each.
In response, the South Africa cricket team put in a spirited batting performance to recover from 108/6 to post 308 in their first innings. The Proteas were aided by an excellent century from wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne (114) and a patient half-century from Mulder (54).
Batting again and trailing by 202 runs, Bangladesh were unable to make a solid start. Maharaj caught skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto, who was looking well-set after a good start, in front of the wicket for his first strike in the second innings. He then outfoxed Litton Das who was stumped as the Proteas looked set for an innings win.
But the hosts showed some fight with a 138-run partnership for the seventh wicket which ensured that South Africa will have to bat again in the contest. Maharaj proved the partnership breaker yet again as he dismissed Jaker Ali for the second time in the match.
Bangladesh were all out for 307 setting the visitors a target of 106. Rabada shone with a six-wicket haul while Maharaj bowled a whopping 37 overs and picked up 3/105. Mehidy Hasan and Jaker Ali scored 97 and 58, respectively for the hosts.
South Africa knocked off the required runs in 22 overs for the loss of three wickets in the first session on day four.
The second and final Bangladesh vs South Africa Test is scheduled to start at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram on October 29.
