Sports Reporter :
A superb maiden century by Mahmudul Hasan Joy powered Bangladesh to fight back against South Africa on the third day of the first Test at Kingsmead in Durban on Saturday. Bangladesh scored 298 in their first innings on the third day. South Africa had overall 75-run lead.
South Africa were at the stumps at six for the loss of none. Openers Dean Elgar were on three, while Sarel Erwee were on three.
Mahmudul Hasan Joy hit a marvelous 137. His painstaking 326-ball painstaking innings was studded with 15 fours and two sixes.
Sent into bat first, South Africa piled up a mammoth total of 367 on the second day (Friday).
Bangladesh resumed their first innings with the over-night score of 98 for the loss of four wickets.
Mahmudul Hasan Joy and Taskin Ahmed resumed their first innings with the over-night score of 44 and naught respectively.
Night-watchman Taskin Ahmed could able to score just one run as he was caught at the gully by Wiaan Mulder off Lizaad Williams when the visitors’ total was 101 for the loss of five wickets.
After Taskin’s departure, Joy and Liton Das rescued their team from danger contributing together 82 runs for the sixth wicket partnership before Liton Das was bowled out Lizaad Williams when Bangladesh’s score was 183 for the loss of six wickets.
Liton Das knocked a calm 41. His 92-ball innings was laced with six fours.
After Liton’s departure, Joy and Yasir Ali added together 33 runs in the seventh wicket stand before Yasir Ali (22) was run out by a joint-effort of wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne and Ryan Rickelton when Bangladesh’s score was 216 for the loss of seven wickets.
After Yasir Ali’s dismissal, Joy and Mehidy Hasan Miraz scored together 51 runs for the eighth wicket partnership before Miraz (29) was caught at slip by Simon Harmer off Mulder when the tourists’ total was 267 for the loss of eight wickets.
After Miraz’s departure, Khaled Ahmed (0) was caught behind by wicketkeeper Verreynne off Duanne Olivier when Bangladesh’s score was 294 for the loss of nine wickets.
After Khaled’s dismissal, Joy was caught at the slip by Simon Harmer off Williams when Bangladesh’s first innings came to an end.
Williams was his team’s most successful bowler on the third day with three wickets for 54 runs.
