Bangladesh Reach 184-5 at Tea as Hridoy Scores Fifty

Towhid Hridoy struck his third straight fifty plus 
knock as Bangladesh reached 184-5 at tea, surviving a Kagiso Rabada onslaught 
on Day 1 of the opening Test at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg today.

All five Bangladesh batters fell to Rabada who finished the session with 5-
33.

However Hridoy defied the fast bowler to remain not out on 65, following his 
epic 242 not out and 82 in the last two innings against West Indies. Liton 
Das was on 30.

Rabada left Bangladesh in embarrassing situation in the first hour of the 
game after Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto won the toss and elected 
to bat first.

But the batters had no answer against a devastating spell of Rabada with the 
new ball. Bangladesh slumped to 22-3 in ninth over after being unable to deal 
with Rabada, raising a prospect of facing more misery.

The well reputed fast bowler struck in the first ball of the innings, making 
it a nightmare debut for Mahfijul Islam Robin.

He moved the ball admirably just outside off, luring Mahfijul a drive and a 
outside edge carried at fourth slip where Marco Jansen didn't make any 
mistake to hold on it clearly and sent back him for golden duck in his 
firstTest outing.

In his second over, Rabada removed Mominul Haque for naught, undoing him with 
an extra bounce before flattening the stump of skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto 
(12) with a scrambled seam delivery.

In form Hridoy, fresh from his epic 242 not out against West Indies, and 
opener Tanzid weathered the attack of Rabada and his co fast bowlers to keep 
the side relevant in the game when it looked Bangladesh would face a mental 
breakdown in tough condition.

They negotiated Rabada threat astutely and kept the side unscathed.

Tanzid played some adventurous shots but survived eventually to raise his 
second fifty in the last over before lunch. He slog-swept left-arm spinner 
Simon Harmer for boundary toward deep square leg to bring up his second Test 
half-century from 79 balls. 

However, Rabada won the battle eventually as he rattled Tanzid stump with a 
quick delivery, ending his 67 off 108, featuring 12 fours.

Rabada completed his 18th five-for in Test cricket in the immediate next 
delivery when he had Mushfiqur Rahim caught by Harmer at third slip for duck.

Liton Das survived the hat-trick delivery and together with Hridoy kept 
Bangladesh in the hunt, sharing 63 runs for the unbroken sixth wicket.

Hridoy raised his second fifty from 99 balls with a single off Marco Jansen 
and looked untroubled amid Rabada's onslaught.