South Africa 308 (Verreynne 114, Mulder 54, Taijul 5-122) and 106 for three (De Zorzi 41, Stubbs 30*, Taijul 3-43) won Bangladesh 106 (Mulder 3-22, Rabada 3-26, Maharaj 3-34) and 307 (Mehidy 97, Jaker 58, Rabada 6-46) through 7 wickets
Hasan was often more threatening prematurely and got an edge from De Zorzi, who fell at second slip and Taijul thought he had made a leap forward when he got Markram to deliver lbw in the eighth over, on 13. Markram overlooked a sweep and There was a collision at home, but it was immediately reviewed and replays confirmed he had missed the ball.
South Africa were unfazed during the incident and de Zorzi completed the finale by storming the Taijul square stretch for four more. The pair of holes placed on 42 inside 10 overs ahead of Taijul, despite everything, had some luck. He bowled Markram to mid-wicket, with South Africa still 65 runs behind.
De Zorzi and Stubbs shared a lead of 29 off 32 balls and had settled well, but De Zorzi got a little too enthusiastic for a minute. He set up Taijul to try and get him out of the farmland, but he dragged the ball towards Hasan from distance. Once again there was incorrect deceleration. Stubbs took 10 runs from the extra over.
David Bedingham was finished off by a good pass from Taijul who went wide and took the threshold and was dismissed with the victory nine runs away. Taijul completed with figures in the form of 8 for 165, then five in the first innings.
Earlier, South Africa needed just 4.5 overs to eliminate Bangladesh and keep their target at just over 100, then the hosts’ poor-medium series forced adjustment to a fourth gear. Bangladesh’s score rose to 81 on the third night as they faced the fresh second ball for five overs as South Africa were forced to take advantage of the spinners to fade away. That changed on the fourth morning. The second new ball was available and brought in and had an almost instantaneous effect.
Mehidy advanced in the 90th with a boundary off Wiaan Mulder, but was tested by Rabada, who slipped the outside edge and caused an aerial move that was dropped by Tony de Zorzi. The Bangladesh 300 emerged when Taijul Islam confronted Mulder across a ravine, but their fun didn’t last long. Two balls later, he bowled one at second slip to lose Mehidy off the last batsman.
He was in a hurry to get to his hundred and was on 97 when he tried to ramp Rabada, but the range was not quite right and forced the ball to slide into place. Rabada finished with 6 for 46. Bangladesh had added 24 runs to their overnight score and although they felt they had something to bowl at, South Africa quickly confirmed there was no longer enough.
South Africa has held Tests in Bangladesh only twice in the last 16 years and both suits from its 2015 line-up have been scrapped. The last day they received a Test in the country was in 2008, when they won both matches via a bye. The second adjustment in this line begins after Tuesday in Chattogram. Thereafter, South Africa has four internal tests, two each towards Sri Lanka and Pakistan. If they win at least four of their five difference suits, they will have a good chance of reaching the WTC final.
