fbpx
Latest NewsSports

Verreynne 114 gives South Africa a lead of 202

South Africa 308 (Verreynne 114, Mulder 54, Taijul 5-122) lead Bangladesh 106 by 202 runs

Kyle Verreynne swept almost every ball that came his way, but when he finally missed one, he was stumped by Litton Das. That ended South Africa’s innings at 308. But by then, Verreynne had raced his way to his second Test century to put his side 202 ahead of Bangladesh’s first-innings score on the second afternoon.

Verreynne took just 144 balls to score 114, becoming the only third wicketkeeper-batter from his country to get a hundred in Asia. Fittingly, the landmark came off a paddle sweep off Taijul Islam in the 86th over. Both his sixes were pumped once he was past the three-figure mark, one a slog sweep off Nayeem Hasan and the other a pull off Mehidy Hasan Miraz.

Just before that, Mehidy had broken a frustrating ninth-wicket stand of 66 for Bangladesh. Dane Piedt, who batted firmly from No. 10, nudged and pushed his way to 32, and was trapped in front on his 87th delivery. It turned in and was given out on field. Piedt reviewed, and it returned an umpire’s call. And the ball immediately after Verreynne’s second six, Mehidy slowed it down to beat the same batter and have him stumped.

Earlier, Verreynne and Wiaan Mulder added 119 for the seventh wicket after South Africa were 108 for 6 on the first evening. The pitch seemed to have settled nicely for batting on the second morning, with no apparent turn available for left-arm spinner Taijul.

Verreynne particularly looked assured against Hasan Mahmud – who started the day alongside Taijul – nudging him past mid-on for three in the second over of the day, before clipping and driving him for boundaries two overs later.

Next over, in the 46th, Taijul had Mulder poking, only for the outside edge to fall short of slip. That had as much to do with Mulder playing with soft hands, as with the slowness of the surface. Mulder and Verreynne adjusted to the pitch, and calmly did the job against Taijul and Nayeem.

Both batters used the sweeps and the reverse sweep to great effect despite Nayeem turning the ball in appreciably on occasion. That was down to them taking a good stride forward to get to the pitch of the deliveries, and once set, confidently putting the ball away. The pair played the sweep or the reverse sweep off 38 deliveries against Taijul, Nayeem and Mehidy on the second morning, and hit 59 runs off them, including seven boundaries and a six.

Bangladesh posted a man close in at square leg to prevent the batters from earning comfortable singles from the sweep, and yet Verreynne got to fifty when he drilled one to the man there. Mulder got to his maiden Test half-century at the start of the 64th over, when he cut Nayeem for four behind point.

It was only in the over before that that Najmul Hossain Shanto brought Mahmud back into the attack, and in the over just after that Mahmud struck back to back. First, he pitched on a back of a length outside off, as the ball held its line. Mulder went for the punch, but edged to wide slip on 54. Next ball, Mahmud went much fuller, reversing the ball into Keshav Maharaj and beating his defense to uproot off stump.

But No. 10 Piedt first denied Mahmud a hat-trick and then annoyed Bangladesh with his firm blocks, ensuring that Verreynne could trust him while on his way to the hundred.

Himanshu Agrawal is a sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo


Source link

Related Articles

Back to top button