South Africa registered an impressive win over Bangladesh in the first Test match at Mirpur, after a decade-long wait for a Test match win in Asia. The victory propelled South Africa to the fourth spot in the World Test Championship points table, taking them one step closer to securing a spot in the WTC Final next year at Lord’s. The star of the match for South Africa was Kagiso Rabada, who claimed nine wickets in the game, while Kyle Verreynne’s century in the first innings and Mehidy Hasan’s fighting knock for Bangladesh were other highlights of the match.
South Africa's Historic Victory in Bangladesh: Kagiso Rabada Shines
After a protracted drought, the South African national cricket team finally emerged victorious in a Test match on Asian soil, defeating Bangladesh in the first Test at Mirpur. This significant triumph not only revived South Africa's hopes for a place in the World Test Championship Final but also heralded the remarkable performance of Kagiso Rabada.
Match Highlights
South Africa's victory was built on a solid first-inning performance, led by a brilliant century from Kyle Verreynne. The hosts responded with a resilient century by Mehidy Hasan, but it was ultimately South Africa's pace attack that proved too formidable.
Kagiso Rabada, South Africa's fiery fast bowler, was the star of the show. He wreaked havoc on the Bangladesh batting lineup, snaring nine wickets over the course of the match. His incisive bowling spearheaded South Africa's dominance and paved the way for their eventual triumph.
World Test Championship Implications
This victory has catapulted South Africa to the fourth spot in the World Test Championship points table. With three more matches to play against Bangladesh and a potential berth in the WTC Final on the line, the Proteas are now firmly in contention to qualify for the coveted showpiece event.
Kagiso Rabada's Rise
Rabada's performance in this match has further cemented his status as one of the world's premier fast bowlers. At just 27 years of age, he has already taken more than 250 Test wickets and is renowned for his pace, skill, and determination.
FAQs
1. When was the last time South Africa won a Test match in Asia before this victory?
A: South Africa's last Test match victory in Asia came in 2012 against Pakistan in Lahore.
2. How many wickets did Kagiso Rabada take in the match?
A: Kagiso Rabada took nine wickets in the match, including 5/73 in the first innings and 4/39 in the second.
3. Who scored a century for South Africa in the first innings?
A: Kyle Verreynne scored a century for South Africa in the first innings, contributing 136 runs to his team's total.
4. What was the result of the second innings for Bangladesh?
A: Bangladesh collapsed in the second innings, scoring only 273 runs and giving South Africa an easy target to chase.
5. How many Test matches has Kagiso Rabada played for South Africa?
A: Kagiso Rabada has played 60 Test matches for South Africa, taking 252 wickets at an average of 22.44.
During the ongoing India vs New Zealand 2nd Test, Sunil Gavaskar's criticism of Rohit Sharma's field placement during the first session sparked a debate among cricket experts and gained traction on social media. With India making three changes to their lineup and Rohit losing the toss, Gavaskar's comments added fuel to the fire as India tried to bounce back from a 1-0 deficit in the series. However, India's unexpected choice of Washington Sundar turned out to be a masterstroke, with the all-rounder picking up a remarkable 7 wickets in Pune.
Indian cricket fans have a reason to celebrate as Jasprit Bumrah and Ravichandran Ashwin have claimed the top two spots in the latest ICC Men’s Test bowling rankings. This adds to the duo's impressive records, with Ashwin leading the wicket-taking charts for the World Test Championship while Bumrah sits fifth. Meanwhile, the Australian pair of Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins, and South Africa's Kagiso Rabada round out the top five amongst fierce competition.
The Indian women's cricket team will have a lot to prove when they take on defending T20 world champions New Zealand in a highly-anticipated three-match ODI series at Ahmedabad's Narendra Modi Stadium. After a disappointing T20 World Cup performance, captain Harmanpreet Kaur will be under scrutiny as India looks to overcome their poor record against the White Ferns in ODIs. With both teams boasting an impressive lineup, this series is bound to be a thrilling encounter.
New Zealand's opener, Devon Conway, anchored a solid three-wicket partnership with Will Young in the opening session of the second Test against India in Pune. Despite some early challenges from India's spinners, Conway remained unbeaten at lunch while Young lost his wicket to a controversial 'keeper's catch. Conway's partnership with Young helped New Zealand put up a formidable score of 92 for 2 at lunch, setting the stage for an exciting day of Test cricket.
A persistent downpour in Wayanad disrupted the game between Kerala and Uttarakhand in the CK Nayudu Trophy U-23 match, resulting in a draw. Despite following-on, Uttarakhand showed resilience in their first innings with half-centuries from Arush, Shashwat Dangwal, and Rohi. However, Kerala's Pavan Raj's five-wicket haul and Edhen Apple Tom's impressive bowling in the second innings put them in a strong position before the match was called off due to bad light.
Zimbabwe's Sikander shines with 133 runs as the team surpasses the previous T20I record with a massive 344/4 against Gambia. This also makes them the highest scoring team among all Test playing nations, breaking India's recent record of 297/6 against Bangladesh earlier this month. Sikander's 15 sixes also set a new record in men's T20Is, making him the first Zimbabwe player to score a century in this format and the joint-second fastest to reach the milestone.
Jordan Cox is set to make his Test debut for England in New Zealand next month, as Jamie Smith will miss part of the tour for the birth of his first child. With his aggressive batting skills and wicketkeeping abilities, Cox has caught the eye of head coach Brendon McCullum, who has been mentoring him on the current tour of Pakistan. This decision effectively ends any hopes of a recall for veteran Jonny Bairstow, who has been struggling to get a spot in the England squad in recent months. McCullum has also praised New Zealand as a "comfortable place" for wicketkeeping, indicating a bright future for Cox.
Sky Sports analyst Paul Merson predicts a must-win game for Arsenal as they face Liverpool in the Premier League. With a loss potentially knocking them out of the title race, Merson believes the team's mentality will play a crucial role in the outcome of the match. Tune in to Super Sunday for this exciting clash on October 24, 2024 at 4:30pm.
Despite a disappointing campaign for India, Harmanpreet Kaur stood out as the captain was the only player from India to make the 2024 Team of the Tournament announced by the ICC. Kaur's batting prowess shone through as she finished as India's top scorer and fourth-highest overall, with an impressive average of 150 and strike rate of 133.92. South Africa's Laura Wolvaardt and Lizelle Lee also earned spots in the team for their stellar performances at the top of the order, along with England's Danni Wyatt-Hodge who notched the most runs for her team.