Hridoy 137, Rabada five-fer headlines Day 1 in Joburg
Bangladesh finished the opening day with 327/6
Bangladesh learnt it the hard way that Kagiso Rabada is one of the most relentless operators of a red-ball, more so with a new, shiny one, as he bagged a fifer on the opening day of the first Test in Johannesburg. Yet, Bangladesh walked off in the evening having taken the fight to the WTC holders, with 327/6 to show for.
That came through their most recent batting star - Towhid Hridoy, who continues to swim in a sea of purple patch. He carried his team past the early wreckage, forged a big stand with Litton Das, and nearly made the first day his very own. He was exactly a ball away from exiting with an asterisk beside his well-composed century, only to be foxed by a full toss from Marco Jansen that he missed and got dismissed leg before.
There's still nothing to take away from his exceptionally crafted 137. He walked into what looked like a crime scene, with Rabada reducing Bangladesh to 22/3, including a wicket off the first ball of the Test. He found an able ally in Tanzid Hasan Tamim as the pair dragged the team to Lunch without any further damage. Rabada however returned on the otherside of Lunch to wreak havoc once more: he dismissed Tanzid for a solid 67 and then took out Mushfiqur Rahim for a first-ball duck straightaway. Litton Das played out the hattrick ball, and then began an alliance that tipped the scales back in favour of the visitors.
Hridoy was on top of his batting game, particularly against Simon Harmer. He comfortably brought out the sweep while Litton got comfortable too. They did what Bangladesh desperately needed from 121/5: to bat long. Bangladesh managed 93 runs in 27 overs in the middle session, with this pair doing most of the scoring. In the early stages of the final session, the pair brought up a 100-run stand as the sun shone down on the Wanderers and promised a complete day's play.
Hridoy got to his century after drinks in the final session. But he looked to be in a spot of bother, taking a blows to his body and hand when South Africa opted for the new ball and Rabada returned to pepper the centurion with bouncers. He saw that out and it appeared like there would be no further incision, until Jansen's relatively-innocuous ball came with Hridoy's name on it. Litton meanwhile, ended the day unbeaten on 92, with more work to do if his team are to repeat their heroics of Australia.
Brief Scores: Bangladesh 327/6 (Towhid Hridoy 137, Litton Das 92; Kagiso Rabada 5-51) vs South Africa
