BAN vs. SA 2024/25, BAN vs. SA 2nd test match report, October 29th – November 2nd, 2024

South Africa 575 for 6 Dec. (Mulder 105*, Muthusamy 68*, Taijul 5-198) vs Bangladesh

Wiaan Mulder became the third first centurion in the South African innings after Tony de Zorzi and Tristan Stubbs. Mulder’s milestone prompted a statement from visitors on the second day of the chattogram test. When Mulder hit Taijul Islam for his fourth six, a brutal hit on the ground, he raised his arms in celebration. Captain Aiden Markram allowed him to spend that moment in the middle before recalling the batters.

Mulder and Senuran Muthusamy added 152 runs for the unbroken seventh wicket as South Africa posted 575 for 6 declared. However, Bangladesh benefited from five penalty runs awarded at the start of the innings as Muthusamy ran down the pitch in the penultimate over of the South African innings.

Mulder hit nine fours and three sixes in his unbeaten 105 from 150 balls. Muthusamy made 68 from 75 balls, with five fours and two sixes, and also scored his first Test fifty. They regained control of their innings after Taijul completed his five-wicket haul in the first session of the day.

Bangladesh were not exactly the owners in the first session of the second day but Taijul helped them fight back by taking three wickets in consecutive overs. He removed Bedingham for 59, bowled and tried to play the slog sweep. Centurion de Zorzi was given lbw after missing a sweep. Kyle Verreynne, the Dhaka Test centurion, also missed a swing and fell to his left after a duck.

However, Mulder and Muthusamy kept Bangladesh at bay after the triple strike. It is the second time in as many games that Mulder has been involved in a century stand for the seventh wicket. He added 119 runs with Verreynne in the Dhaka Test. They hit boundaries regularly in the second session, with Mulder in particular taking on the Bangladesh spinners.

He started the session by smashing Taijul in the middle before felling Nahid Rana for two fours. He passed to Mehidy in the middle, followed by Muthusamy, who hit Taijul for his first six. Mulder hit part-time offspinner Mahmudul Hasan Joy for two consecutive sixes, the first of which brought South Africa 500 runs.

Taijul’s five wickets brought 198 runs from 52.2 overs, the most expensive five-wicket haul by a Bangladesh bowler. Rana took the other wicket while the rest of the Bangladesh bowlers struggled.

South Africa had dominated the first day with centuries from de Zorzi and Stubbs as they added 201 runs for the second wicket. The pair used the sweeps – reverse and conventional – effectively as the Bangladesh spinners, particularly Mehidy Hasan Miraz, were unable to silence them.