Bangladesh were battling to save an innings defeat after Kyle Verreynner鈥檚 superb hundred and early blows put them on the brink on the second day of their first Test against South Africa at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on Tuesday.聽
The hosts were still trailing by 101 runs in the second innings with Mahmudul Hasan (38) and Mushfiqur Rahim (31) remaining unbeaten when bad light stopped the play 30 minutes before the scheduled time for the second consecutive day.聽
After conceding 308 runs in the first innings, with 200 of those coming from the last four pairs, Shadman Islam and Mominul Haque fell in quick succession for the second time in the match, this time to Kagiso Rabada.
Shadman was caught at short leg while Mominul couldn鈥檛 handle the length delivery that had extra bounce. Together, they scored five runs in the match.聽
Mahmudul Hasan, the most comfortable and confident Bangladesh batter so far in the match, brought up the first fifty partnership of the match for the hosts, partnering captain Najmul Hossain Shanto.
Shanto was undone by a Keshav Maharaj quicker delivery as he was all over it and got trapped lbw after scoring 23.聽
Earlier, Bangladesh hoped to wrap the South African innings up quickly as the visitors started the day on 140-6.
But Verreynne and Mulder thought otherwise as they put a record 119-run partnership on the seventh wicket 鈥� their best against Bangladesh.聽
Bangladesh bowlers lacked discipline, and the half chances were not taken. Verreynne and Mulder applied themselves beautifully on a pitch that still was offering something to the bowlers, though it had eased away more than the first day.聽
Verreynne, who resumed the innings on 18, brought up his fifty off 67 balls. Mulder followed the suit, which was his first fifty of his career.聽
Hasan Mahmud finally broke through in the 24th over of the day as he struck twice in consecutive deliveries.聽
Mulder edged one to the slip while Maharaj鈥檚 off stump was uprooted. But two quick wickets didn鈥檛 hold Verreynne back, as he got trusted company from Dane Piedt.聽
They frustrated Bangladesh further with a 66-run partnership. Mehidy Hasan Miraz trapped Piedt (32 off 87) in front to break that.聽
Verreynne got to his second hundred of his career off 134 balls with a sweep. He later said that it was 鈥榙efinitely the best innings鈥� of his 18-Test career.聽
After reaching the hundred, he hit two sixes 鈥� only two of the Proteas innings, but finally was stumped by Liton off Mehidy for 114. 聽
The visitors鈥� lead crossed 200 before that and took control of the match.聽