Bangladesh suffer another thumping defeat against South Africa

In pursuit of 413 runs  in the fourth innings of the second Test of the two-match series in Gqeberha, South Africa, Bangladesh suffered a defeat by 332 runs after Keshav Maharaj recorded another seven-for on Monday.

Bangladesh had ended day three at 27 for three. They lasted only an hour on the fourth day and lost all of their remaining wickets.

“We failed to play good cricket in this series,” Bangladesh captain Mominul Haque said to the broadcaster at the end of the match. “We are disappointed but have to move forward. We play well when everyone contributes and that is why the first innings in Durban was good. We didn't have any partnership with bat or ball, even with the ball we kept leaking from one end in this Test.”

Maharaj and his spin-bowling partner Simon Harmer bagged all 10 of Bangladesh’s wickets in the fourth innings as they did in the fourth innings of the first Test too at Durban.

While Maharaj scalped seven, Harmer took three as they did the same in the first Test.

After losing three quick wickets, the onus was on Mushfiqur Rahim, Mominul Haque, Liton Das and Yasir Ali to keep the scoreboard afloat. But all of them failed horribly.

For the fourth consecutive time, Mominul failed to do well with the bat. Mushfiqur, who had a fifty in the previous innings, couldn't continue on a good run. Yasir suffered a duck.

Liton and Mehidy Hasan offered some resistance scoring 27 and 20 respectively, but that did little to avoid another big defeat against South Africa in Test.

“It has been a good last few months since I have taken over the captaincy,” Dean Elgar, the captain of South Africa, told the broadcaster. “Obviously playing this series as people say a weak squad, but I don't see it like that. I see giving guys an opportunity at this level and trying to test their skills as international cricketers.”

Earlier, with a 236-run first-inning lead, South Africa declared their second innings on 176 for six, and with this, the hosts set a huge target of 413 for the Tigers.

In reply to South Africa’s first innings of 453, Bangladesh tumbled for 217 despite having some good batting display from some batters who failed to carry on with a positive mind.

All of Tamim, Mushfiuqr Rahim and Yasir Ali passed the 40-run mark, but only Mushfiqur was able to reach a fifty. He, however, ended his innings with a fancy sweep which looked awkward at this moment of the match.

However, Taijul Islam continued to prove his ability on the soil of South Africa taking three more wickets in the second innings of the hosts. His wickets tally in this Test ended with nine for 202— his best match return away from home in Tests.