Sabbir Hossain :Bangladesh scored 246 for the loss of eight wickets in their first innings against South Africa on the first day of the second and final Test at match the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on Thursday.Bangladesh made a sorrow start with opener Tamim Iqbal (6) lifting a catch on the first slip taken Hashim Amla when Bangladesh’s score was 12 only. It was Dale Steyn’s 400th Test wicket.After Tamim’s dismissal, Imrul Kayes and Mominul Haque salvaged their team from early debacle contributing together 69 runs for the second wicket partnership before Mominul Haque was caught behind by wicketkeeper Dane Villas off JP Duminy when the hosts’ total was 81 for the loss of two wickets.Promising Mominul Haque notched up a sedate 40 from 87 balls. He hit six strokes beyond the ropes in his 111-ball innings.After Mominul’s departure, Imrul Kayes could stay on the pitch for a short time as Kayes was trapped leg before wicket by JP Duminy when the home side’s score was 86 for the loss of three wickets. Kayes hit 30 off 93 balls with three fours.Then Mahmudullah Riyad and Mushfiqur Rahim built a noteworthy partnership. They added together 94 runs in the four-wicket stand before Mahmudullah Riyad was caught at the short mid-wicket by Temba Bayuma off Dale Steyn when Bangladesh’s total was 180 for the loss of four wickets.Mushfiqur Rahim hit a captain’s knock of 65. His 125-ball painstaking innings was ornamented with seven fours. It was Mushfiqur’s 15th Test half century. He reached his 50-run landmark utilizing 79 balls.Mahmudullah Riyad made 35 from 91 balls including three fours. After Mahmudullah’s departure, Mushfiqur Rahim and Shakib Al Hasan repaired the damage adding together 35 runs for the fifth wicket partnership before Mushfiqur Rahim was caught behind by Dane Villas off Dean Elgar when the hosts’ score was 215 for the loss of five wickets.After dismissal of Mushfiqur Rahim, the Bangladeshi batsmen failed to build any notable partnership.Shakib Al Hasan knocked a calm 35 off 65 balls. His 108-minute innings was decorated with four fours. Shakib was caught at the gully by Dean Elgar off Morne Mokel when Bangladesh’s score was 245 for the loss of seven wickets.Earlier, Liton Das (3) was caught at the short mid-wicket by Dean Elgar off JP Duminy when Bangladesh’s score was 220 for the loss of six wickets. Later, Mohammad Shahid(1) was cleanly bowled out by Dale Steyn when Bangladesh’s first day play came to an end. JP Duminy and Dale Steyn grabbed three wickets each for 27 and 30 runs respectively.
