Rabada, Mulder and Maharaj leave Bangladesh staggering

Kagiso Rabada © Getty Images

Kagiso Rabada took his 300th Test wicket as Bangladesh slumped to 60 for six wickets in the first session of the first Test at the Sher Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur on Monday.

In what was a standout session for the Proteas, Rabada and fellow paceman Vian Mulder put in a superb performance, taking five out of six wickets, with Mulder taking the first three wickets (3/22 in eight overs) and Rabada the next two (2/16). in eight overs) and then, just before lunch, left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj caught Mehidy Hasan Miraz leg before the wicket.

Kagisa Rabada becomes fastest to reach 300 Test wickets (by balls scored) ⚡

11817 – Rabada
12,602 – Waqar Younis
12,605 – Dale Steyn
13,672 – Allan Donald
13728 – Malcolm Marshall pic.twitter.com/bluHDLL4Yi

— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) October 21, 2024

Bangladesh won the toss and elected to bat first, a decision that South Africa captain Aiden Markram would also have chosen. As it turned out, the pitch was bowler-friendly from the start thanks to the excellent Mulder in particular, who swung the ball through the air in foggy and wet conditions and also got movement from the seam.

Mulder bowled the fourth ball in his first over and opener Shadman Islam bowled a full and wide delivery, driving the ball straight to Markram at slip. In the next over, Mulder should have got Mominal Haq’s leg early, but the ball tracking technology did not work and the umpire’s initial decision of no out had to be followed. Huck then hit the next ball for four, but was immediately conceded, going past goalkeeper Kyle Verrein.

Mulder then became his third victim in his third over when Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto got an edge on an attempted leg turn, handing the ball to Maharaj in midfield.

Rabada then joined the group as he began his second spell, spectacularly ripping out Mushfiqur Rahim’s top and middle stumps as he cut between bat and pad. The great paceman then got extra bounce and movement down the seam to deliver a powerful shot to Litton Das, which Tristan Stubbs rushed high to his left at gully – holding brilliantly.

Maharaj, who produced stunning turns at times, then capped a sensational morning for the South Africans by catching the leg of Mehidy Hasan Miraz with his slider.

BANGLADESH: Shadman Islam, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Najmul Hossain Shanto (captain), Mominul Haq, Mushfiq Rahim, Litton Das (wk), Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Jaker Ali, Naeem Hasan, Taijul Islam, Hasan Mahmood

SOUTH AFRICA: Aiden Markram (captain), Tony de Zorzi, Tristan Stubbs, David Bedingham, Ryan Rickelton, Matthew Britzke, Kyle Verrein (wk), Vian Mulder, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Dane Piedt