Debutant Mahfizul Falls for First-Ball Duck as Bangladesh Lose Two Early

Debutant opener Mahfizul Islam was out first ball as Bangladesh lost two quick wickets after choosing to bat in the first Test against South Africa in Johannesburg on Sunday.

Mahfizul edged the first ball of the match, bowled by Kagiso Rabada, and Marco Jansen took the catch at gully. It was also the 22-year-old's first ball in international cricket.

Rabada struck again in the fourth over, when Mominul Haque was caught behind.

The ball pitched just outside off stump and climbed a little more than expected, and Mominul edged it to the wicketkeeper while trying to defend. Bangladesh were seven for two after 3.1 overs.

Tanzid Hasan and captain Najmul Hossain Shanto then tried to rebuild the innings.

Mahfizul became only the fourth batter to be dismissed by the first ball of a Test on debut.

South Africa's Jimmy Cook was the first, against India in Durban in 1992. West Indies' Leon Garrick followed against South Africa in 2001, and Afghanistan's Abdul Malik against Zimbabwe in 2021.

Mahfizul earned his first national call-up for the series after finishing as the leading run-scorer in this season's National Cricket League, with 672 runs from 10 innings at an average of 74.67.

He came into the side as Tanzid's opening partner after Shadman Islam was ruled out with an ankle injury suffered during the second Test against West Indies in Sylhet.

Shanto won the toss and chose to bat, and Bangladesh went in with three pacers and one spinner.

Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud and Ebadot Hossain make up the pace attack, with Mehidy Hasan Miraz the only spinner. Left-arm spinner Taijul Islam, who played both Tests against West Indies, misses out.

The two-Test series is part of the World Test Championship. The second Test begins in Centurion on November 23.

Bangladesh XI: Najmul Hossain Shanto (captain), Tanzid Hasan, Mahfizul Islam, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Towhid Hridoy, Litton Das, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Hasan Mahmud, Taskin Ahmed and Ebadot Hossain.