De Zorzi aids South Africa in securing solid start in second Test

De Zorzi aids South Africa in securing solid start in second Test

Lunch South Africa 109 for 1 (de Zorzi 49*, Stubbs 23*) v Bangladesh

 

Aiden Markram and Tony de Zorzi shared their third fifty-plus opening stand in four Tests to get South Africa off to a strong start on a batter-friendly pitch in Chattogram. Markram, standing in as captain for the injured Temba Bavuma, chose to bat first and South Africa scored fairly freely against a four-man Bangladesh attack.

 

 

The hosts included an extra seamer in 22-year-old Nahid Rana and he shared the new ball with Hasan Mahmud. The early signs from Rana were impressive as he reached speeds of over 140kph and swung the ball away from Aiden Markram but he could not force a false stroke. Instead, South Africa read the bounce well and Markram scored the first boundary, in the third over, when he punched Hasan off the back foot through the covers. He followed up with a front foot push off Rana to show off his full range of drives.

 

Bangladesh turned to spin early and introduced Taijul Islam in the fifth over but the only half chance of the first hour came at the other end. De Zorzi edged the first ball of Hasan's fourth over just past debutant wicket-keeper Mahidul Islam, who could not get to the ball.De Zorzi's response was not to retreat. He slog-swept Taijul for six in the next over and then sent Hasan aerially over cover for four. South Africa's fifty was up inside 11 overs, at a scoring rate of 4.6 runs an over and went to drinks on 60 without loss.

 

With a hint of turn on offer, it was soon spin from both ends and it brought some success. After de Zorzi showed aggression when he hit Mehidy Hasan Miraz through mid-wicket for four, Markram advanced down the track to a Taijul ball that was not as short as he anticipated. He chipped it to Monimul Haque at mid-on.

 

Markram's dismissal allowed Bangladesh to pull things back. They did not concede a boundary for 21 deliveries as Tristan Stubbs played himself in. He found his first four when he reverse-swept Miraz behind point but then Bangladesh reapplied the squeeze. Another 28 balls were bowled for just 14 runs before de Zorzi brought up South Africa's hundred with a sumptuous cover drive. Hasan missed de Zorzi's edge with his next ball, for the second time in the session, but de Zorzi survived. He went to lunch one away from a third Test fifty.