DHAKA, Oct 29, 2024 (BSS) - Opener Tony de Zorzi and Tristan Stubbs struck their maiden centuries to help South Africa dominate Bangladesh thoroughly on Day 1 of the second and final cricket Test at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram today.
 
Zorzi hammered 141 not out while Stubbs hit 106 before being out as South Africa reached 307-2 before the bad light forced early stumps for the day.
 
David Bedingham was on 18 with Zorzi, hinting to pile a host of misery on Bangladesh in the coming days. 
 
Left-arm spinner Taijul Islam took both of the wickets for 110 after bowling 30 overs, meaning he bowled more than one third of the day.
 
Zorzi was instrumental in putting South Africa on the front foot after stand-in captain Aiden Markram won the toss and opted to bat first.

Zorzie and Markram put on 69 runs for the opening stand, scoring at a run rate of nearly four until left-arm spinner Taijul intervened.

Taijul broke through with the wicket of Markram, who chipped a tossed-up delivery straight to mid-on after scoring 33 off 52 with two fours.

Zorzi could have gone on 6 as he edged a delivery from pacer Hasan Mahmud behind but debutant Mahidul Islam Ankon failed to hold on to the catch. 
Zorzi made Bangladesh pay heavily for the missed chance. 

Taijul, who took eight wickets in the first Test that Bangladesh lost by seven wickets, was largely ineffective despite operating tirelessly as Zorzi attacked him as a strategy to put pressure on the hosts' bowling line up.
Stubbs was also similarly comfortable in his stay in the crease and used his feet properly against the spinners.

Both Zorzi and Stubbs cut through Bangladesh's bowling in surgical fashion to put the visitors on top. 

Zorzi raised his maiden Test century from 146 balls, employing a sweep shot to precision for a boundary against offspinner Mehidy Hasan through deep square-leg. 

Stubbs hit Mehidy three sixes in quick succession before he cut a delivery from occasional bowler Mominul Haque to sweeper cover for a single to complete his first test century from 194 balls. 

Soon after he raised his century, Taijul dismissed Stubbs with a low delivery, ending the 201-run between him and Zorzi. Stubbs smashed eight fours and three sixes in his 198-ball knock. 

The dismissal gave Bangladesh a glimmer of hope to go with bang against the South Africans, but Bedingham started from where Stubbs left. 
Zorzi, who struck 10 fours and three sixes in 211 balls, kept attacking relentlessly to help South Africa go past 300.

Bedingham matched his aggression and struck two sixes before the bad light brought a premature end to the day. 

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