Fast bowler Kagiso Rabada’s 6/46 helped South Africa finish off Bangladesh by seven wickets on Thursday and win their first Test in Asia in 10 years.
Bangladesh were all out for 307 in the second innings in the morning, with Rabada grabbing his six-for. Needing 106 for victory, South Africa completed the inevitable just before lunch on Day IV, losing three wickets along the way.
The last time South Africa won a Test in Asia was in 2014, against Sri Lanka in Galle.
Bangladesh were always chasing after being dismissed for 106 in the first innings. South Africa replied with 308 propped up by Kyle Verreynne’s 114, which earned him Man of the Match.
“It’s a really good performance. Incredibly tough for the team to put four days of good cricket together,” South Africa stand-in captain Aiden Markram said.
“Bowlers were great and then the batters helped us get a great lead. When you get a lead like that, it’s tough for opposition to come back.”
Resuming the day at 283/7 and 81 runs ahead, the hosts failed to make any impact as Rabada and Wiaan Mulder sliced through Bangladesh with the second new ball.
“Rabada is a special bowler for us,” Markram said. “For Kyle to step in and play that sort of innings... (The) emphasis is on whoever’s playing should make it count.”
Rabada struck in the first over of the day, trapping Nayeem Hasan leg before for his overnight 16 to complete his 15th five-wicket haul in Tests. Rabada finished the match with 9/72.
Left-arm spinner Taijul Islam took eight wickets overall, after picking up all three Proteas wickets on Thursday.
“As a batting group we need to take responsibility against the new ball, and as a bowling group we need to show improvement,” Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto said. ”We need to put in a collective performance in the next Test (in Chittagong from Tuesday).”
Brief scores: Bangladesh 106 & 307 (Mehidy Hasan Miraz 97;
Kagiso Rabada 6/46) South Africa 308 & 106/3 (Tony de Zorzi 41, Tristan Stubbs 30 not out).
South Africa won by 7 wickets
