It was a hectic day out in the field, and after a match of cricket, one bad Bangladeshi fast bowler, Hasan Mahmud, decided to be straight forward when speaking to the media. To this Mahmud said, “Getting out is not in our hands,” when asked about Bangladesh’s problem regarding batting.
His response underpinned the grim football situation in Bangladesh as they struggled to keep up with the game against a tight South African bowlers.
South Africa Takes Command
Bangladesh is in quite a vulnerable position now after all the major South African players rose to the occasion in the first innings. The visitors restricted Bangladesh to 106 for all-out and then scored a handsome 308 for the loss of some wickets through some hard-hitting from Kyle Verreynne and useful cameos from Wiaan Mulder.
Also See: Bangladesh Faces Trouble as Rabada Claims Two Early Wickets in Second Innings
This has given South Africa a lead of 202, and by the close of the second day’s play, Bangladesh was struggling at 101/3 in the second inning, still 101 runs away from making South Africa bat again in the second inning.
Joy and Mushfiqur: Bangladesh’s Key Hope
Heavy responsibility now rests in opener Mahmudul Hasan Joy and the veteran Mushfiqur Rahim, who both batted through to the close of play. Joy, who scored more than 300 runs in the first inning, was unbeaten at 38, and Mushfiqur, from 26 balls, looked aggressive with three fours.
It is often said that when Bangladesh is faced with something that it cannot handle, it will find a way to turn it into an advantage. This is the Bangladesh cricket team’s best shot back, but the journey won’t be easy for players as well as the management.
Disappointing Performance in the First Pitch
What was more disappointing was how Bangladesh’s batting order was wiped out in the first inning. The batsmen failed to put up a good show against the SA seam bowlers, and wickets started to tumble one after the other.
When Bangladesh started their second innings, it seemed like more batsmen would be dismissed soon. Opener Shadman Islam was sliver away in the third over, and then skipper Mominul Haque was out too, leaving the Bangladesh team in deep trouble at 4 for departure.
Shanto’s Brief Resistance
Captain Shanto, who was limp against South African pacer Kagiso Rabada at the beginning of the match, seemed to stabilize after a few deliveries. However, he was dismissed for 23 to Keshav Maharaj after adding 55 runs for the banned partnership with Joy to put Bangladesh under more pressure. Joy and Mushfiqur then joined together and somehow steadied the ship in the last hour, scoring 42 runs off 50 balls to end the day.
Bangladesh’s Batting vs. South African Discipline
The striking differential in Tanto’s batting strategy has been evident throughout the match. The South African batsmen came through with some of them being as patient as they were fluent, especially Verreynne, who made a well-deserved 114.
Top scorer Wiaan Mulder contributed 54 here, and even No. 11 Dane Piedt came up with a useful 32. Batting, however, looked tense and nervous; Bangladesh could not mirror the same order and application that they essayed in the opponent’s den.
About Bangladesh’s Challenges: Mahmud’s Idea
When questioned about why Bangladesh’s batsmen found it difficult to settle in while South Africa’s did not, Hasan Mahmud offered a straightforward answer: ‘We can’t control getting out.’ I believe we need to pay even more attention to getting set and playing as concentrated as possible.
It is a problem Bangladesh has experienced in Test cricket—maintaining concentration and patience, especially when coming up against good bowling.
Also See: How To Prepare For A Cricket Semifinal Match
Hope for a Turnaround
Still, Hasan Mahmud thinks Bangladesh has an opportunity to bounce back from its current position. He believed that Joy and Mushfiqur, together with the other batting lineup, would be able to stage a fightback. Mahmud was optimistic: “If we can give them a target of more than 200, we can definitely win, Inshallah.”
His statement underlines the fact that he is of the opinion that Bangladesh can come out of the woods and post improvements in the second innings if they form proper relations.
Setting a Target of 200: A Tall Order
For South Africa to bag 200, Bangladesh would have to score more than 300 runs for the second time. This is to mean that so long as Joy and Mushfiqur, and the entire batting team, will have to be very patient as well as disciplined.
Mahmud stays optimistic and says that if Sri Lanka can bat for at least three days, the team should be able to get to a total around the 400 mark and possibly set a competitive target for South Africa.
Going with Partners
Therefore, for Bangladesh, the secret of remaining in the contest is having alliances and the wickets preserved. Joy, who played well, and Mushfiqur, the Test specialist, will have to start well for the third day.
If they can come through the first session without a wicket loss, then that would set up Bangladesh for a score of around 260 or so. The lower order of Bangladesh surely has the capability to rise up to these expectations as the seniors of the side.
If Bangladesh needs to raise their hopes, it is for Joy and Mushfiqur to deliver and also for the lower order to bowl well. In this match, they have to show that they can cope with pressure and conditions and remain psychologically tough. Mahmud has an example; his three wickets in the first South Africa innings showed his part, and with stable batting, he hopes to bring Bangladesh back into the match.
Confidence and the Road Ahead: Hasan Mahmud
On the third day, Bangladesh has just one aim, and that is to survive and get massive associations. Mahmudul Hasan Joy and Mushfiqur Rahim have proven they have the talent to handle South Africa bowling, but that’s when patience comes into play. It is Bangladesh’s spirit of staying afloat in the game that Mahmud expresses about his team’s capabilities despite the above odds.
Taking the Character and Strategy to the Test
The third day will certainly prove to be a stern character and strategy-building day for the Bangladesh team. It is literally a day that encompasses every detail that aims to reach for the stars—every protective move, every run scored. If Bangladesh’s batsmen start accumulations, build a nervy partnership, and put on an unbroken stand, they can slowly turn the screw on the South Africans.
This we saw where Mushfiqur, with his maturity, was trying to encourage others while Joy showed positive spirit in his fight despite getting out for a duck. If Bangladesh think the keeper imbalances a little and takes some risks, they have the opportunity to build up and post a decent total, giving something to their bowlers to peruse in the last innings.
Resilience Spirit of Bangladesh
The joyful spirit of Hasan Mahmud symbolizes the team’s willingness to go to the next level to overcome all odds. He trusts his fellow men, and their capacity to improve will come into play when they step onto the field on the third day.
Source Link: https://www.tbsnews.net/sports/if-we-give-south-africa-target-200-well-win-hasan-mahmud-973431