DHAKA, Oct 30, 2024 (BSS)- South Africa recovered from a mini collapse, inflicted by left-arm spinner Taijul Islam to reach 527-6 at tea on Day 2 of the second and final cricket Test against Bangladesh at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram today.

Wiaan Mulder who hit a half-century in the last Test, drove the side past 500 and was batting on 78 at the second interval of the day with Senuran Muthusamy on 47.

They helped the side back on track, sharing 104 runs for the unbeaten seventh wicket stand, after South Africa lost four wickets for 37 runs in either side of the lunch.

The visitors seemingly marched towards a big total with overnight unbeaten batters Tony de Zorzi and David Bedingham batting with unwavering resolve after resuming at 307-2.

They kept Bangladesh bowlers at bay, playing all kind of shots, specially the sweep shots and reverse sweep against the spinners impeccably. 

Taijul then took the onus to help the side hit back, triggering a mini collapse that forced South Africa losing three wickets for just five runs to be reduced to 391-5 from 386-2.

But the first hour of morning session looked completely gloomy for Bangladesh. De Zorzi and Bedingham were unfazed by any kind of plan as the pitch still appeared to be good to bat on.

De Zorzi converted his maiden century to 150 from 235 balls, smashing a tossed-up delivery of Tajiul through mid-wicket for a four.

He appeared to make it double ton but Taijul caused a mental distraction by rattling Bedingham’s stump with a quicker delivery to end 116-run partnership.

Bedingham who raised his third fifty off 70 balls, with a single off Mehidy Hasan, was dismissed on 59. 

An over later, de Zorzi who was playing sweep shot to precision, missed the line to be trapped leg-before. That ended his marathon 269 ball-177, which included 12 fours and four sixes.

Kyle Verreynne, the centurion of the first Test, also missed a sweep shot to be trapped leg-before for a duck, handing Taijul his 14th five-for.

Just after the lunch, pacer Nahid Rana further troubled South Africa, dismissing Ryan Rickelton for 12 after he nicked a delivery to wicket-keeper Mahidul Islam Ankon.

As Bangladesh sensed a chance to expose the South African tail, Mulder and Muthusamy came up with steely resolve to further frustrate Bangladesh.

Both the batters plundered Bangladesh bowlers with ease to rotate the scoreboard at rapid pace with Mulder particularly harsh on the spinners.

He struck six fours and three sixes for his 115 ball-78 not out. Muthusamy also thrived in with similar attacking approach and slammed two fours and as many sixes for his unbeaten 46 off 47.

Taijul ended the session with 5-188 while Nahid Rana returned figures of 1-69.