How the South African batting line-up got dismantled by the Bangladeshi bowlers

Mustazifur is in splendid form

As Mustafizur Rahman took 3 wickets in the space of 4 balls, Bangladesh fans were in pure elation. Out of the 3 countries that toured Bangladesh after the World Cup, the Proteas were expected to be their toughest test – but so far, the South Africans are the ones that are getting schooled by the newly adolescent kid.

Winning the One Day International Series and winning a Test series is an entirely different ball game. Bangladesh’s performances against Pakistan and India in the toughest version of the game revealed their lack of experience to succeed in Tests.

So when one of the most feared teams in the world, though humbled in the ODIs, took on the hosts in Chittagong for the first of two Tests, many expected a mauling from the hands of the visitors.

And it seemed like they were on track to do so as they were batting comfortably at 173/3 before the extremely talented Mustafizur Rahman’s tornado hit them and dismantled their batting to collapse at 248.

Perhaps none expected South Africa getting all out for 248 in Tests against Bangladesh, not even the host fans thought of something like this. But it has happened, and the youngsters deserve the most credit for it.

Mustafizur Rahman has continued his great form even in Tests as he ended his debut innings with 4 wickets under his belt. His deceptiveness still remains inscrutable for the South Africans, they have failed to apprehend his slower ones thus far and it has cost them.

The other youngsters, Jobair Hossain and Mohammad Shahid, did an exceptional job themselves. The latter was unlucky to not get any wickets, as some catches that came off his bowling were dropped, and he troubled the Proteas with his strict line and length.

Jobair Hossain cunning leg-spinners got him three scalps. A look at his performances in the domestic circuit gives one the indication that he might well be the leg-spinner Bangladesh cricket have been craving for such a long time.

What stood above everything else was the maturity these youngsters showed. No player – apart from Tamim Iqbal, Shakib al-Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah and captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza – have their places in the starting XI guaranteed. And this type of competition is exactly what was needed for the team to grow.

Soumya Sarkar was the man of the series in the ODIs against South Africa, but he finds himself warming the bench for this Test – such is the case of the team now. This has prompted the players to work as hard as they can – something which not many Bangladeshi players of the bygone past did.

No longer can any player sit back and take his place for granted. The youngsters know that, and hence are giving it their all to make sure they make their cases for a place in the first team stronger.

The recent surge of pacers in the country has taken the level to another level. Keeping history as witness, every team that was labeled as great had a strong pace attack to go with. For years, Bangladesh lacked a genuine pace attack, but now they have got it – and it isn’t a coincidence that they are flourishing now.

One of the most infuriating things regarding Bangladesh in Tests was their lack of understand on how to best use home conditions. Despite playing at home, they – time and again – kept making a mess of the team combination and hence fail to exploit the home-turf advantage.

In the Tests against Pakistan and India, poor team combination was more of a reason for their failure than lack of temperament. In this Test, however, the team combination was spot on with 2 pacers and 2 spinners – it was the perfect balance and the best utilization of home conditions.

Bangladesh could yet lose this Test match – and the series – against South Africa, but that won’t undermine the fact that their bowling attack has become a very potent one: and that is without the likes of Rubel Hossain and Mashrafe Mortaza in the playing XI.

With the severe competition for places in the team, and the quantity of talent in the lower age groups – Bangladesh’s u-19 won 5-2 against South Africa u-19 in their latest ODI series – the trajectory can only go upwards. And Bangladeshi fans pray that that is indeed the case.