DHAKA, Oct 21, 2024 (BSS)-Bangladesh left-arm spinner Taijul Islam believes 
that his side can win the first cricket Test match despite a batting debacle 
if they continue to put South Africa in pressure. 

Taijul was the one who gave Bangladesh a glimmer of hope to turn the table 
after an abysmal batting show which saw the Tigers bowled out for 106, their 
lowest in the first innings of a Test match on Day 1 on home soil.

The left-arm spinner then claimed 5-49 to help the side reduce South Africa 
to 140-6 and with the pitch showing a sign of deteriorating, Bangladesh can 
hope for the best.

"To be honest, we did not get a good total (in the first innings). If we had 
scored around 220 or 250, the match would have been in our hands," Taijul 
said after the first day's play that saw 16 wickets falling. 

"Maybe the match is still in our hands. But we have to do really well from 
here. We should play better in the next innings. I hope we will come back."

Taijul in the process became only the second Bangladeshi bowler after Shakib 
Al Hasan to take 200 wickets. He achieved the feat in his 48th Test and thus 
became the quickest one, going past Shakib who reached there in his 54th 
Test. 

"I'm happy for the milestone I achieve. Many bowlers have 200 or 300-400 
wickets. But we don't play many Test matches. Still, I'm one of the 
Bangladeshi bowlers who have 200 wickets. I'm happy for this," he added.

Even though South Africa pacers went on rampage in the morning session, 
Bangladesh knew Mirpur pitch always tend to favour the spinners. And Taijul 
proved as to why Bangladesh went with three-pronged pace attack along with 
just one pacer.

Taijul said it is normal in International cricket that every team will 
prepare the wicket to their strength. 

"Wherever you go to play international cricket, the hosts will take the home 
advantage. We want to play good cricket. If we can play better cricket, we 
can get the result in our favor," he said.

He also spoke on Shakib Al Hasan, who made him unavailable in this Test, 
saying that the ace allrounder's absence won't make any impact on the result.

"We have played without Shakib in the past. We have won a Test in New Zealand 
without him, and we have won at home without him," Taijul said. 

"You cannot play a cricketer for 50 years. Many players will come and go 
after playing 10 or 15 years or maybe 20 years. We have to accept it. Shakib 
is a great player, there is no doubt. We should hope that we will get more 
like him."