DHAKA, Oct 31, 2024 (BSS) - On a day when Bangladesh Women's football team, returned home to hero's welcome after winning the SAFF Championship, Bangladesh male cricket team produced one of the most shocking performances to taste an ignominious defeat to South Africa in the second and final cricket Test at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram today.
 
The Tigers, as it was called, lost 16 wickets in a single day in shambolic fashion to suffer an innings and 273 runs defeat inside three days. This was their second worst defeat in their history, only behind an innings and 310 runs defeat to the West Indies in 2002.
 
It was Bangladesh's 46th innings defeat in 148 Test matches.

Fast bowler Kagiso Rabada (5-37) wrecked havoc in the first innings while Keshav Maharaj sliced through them in the second innings with 5-59.

But more than the South African bowlers' carnage, it was the Bangladeshi batters who dug their own graveyards by playing injudicious shots.

South Africa won the first Test by seven wickets, which was their first victory in the subcontinent since 2014.
 
Resuming the day at 38-4, Bangladesh were dismissed for 159, replying to South Africa's 575-6 declared.
 
With Rabada grabbing his 15th five-for, Bangladesh were reduced to a 48-8 but a 103-run ninth wicket partnership between Mominul Haque and Taijul Islam delayed the inevitable.
 
Mominul made the team-best 82 while Taijul made 30.
 
Leading the first innings by 416 runs, South Africa enforced a follow-on, and its bowlers justified the decision by wrapping up Bangladesh for 143 in little less than two sessions.
 
Left-arm spinner Senuran Muhtusamy registered his career-best 4-45 to play a perfect foil to Maharaj.
 
No. 10 batter Hasan Mahmud was not out on 38 and captain Najmul Hossain Shanto scored 36.
 
Bangladesh began the day, being threatened to an innings defeat but hardly anyone could sense a meek surrender inside three days.
 
In the morning session, Rabada struck in just fourth over of the day as captain Najmul Hossain Shanto poked a length delivery tentatively to Kyle Verriynne for 9.
 
In the next over, Dane Paterson dismissed Mushfiqur Rahim for duck with a fuller length delivery.
 
The situation went from bad to worse as Rabada struck twice, getting the better of Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Mahidul Islam in three deliveries.
 
Miraz pushed a delivery outside off half-heartedly to be out for 1, while Mahidul Ankon on debut was out for duck after offering no shot against a delivery that nipped back sharply.
 
Mominul and Taijul resisted that, which only delayed the inevitable.
 
Once Senuran Muthusamy dismissed Mominul for 82 by denying him a century, Bangladesh's resistance came to an end.
 
Keshav Maharaj, who took 2-57 in the first innings, then removed Taijul for 30 to wrap up Bangladesh's innings.
 
After dismissing Bangladesh with such ease, South Africa didn't hesitate to enforce follow-on.
 
Bangladesh openers weathered Rabada threat but his new ball partner Dane Paterson struck first to take the wicket of Shadman Islam, who chased a delivery outside off to edge behind for 6. He was out for duck in the first innings.
 
Muthusamy dismissed another opener, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, for 11, with a turning delivery that took the outside edge of the batter.
 
Mominul Haque fought valiantly in the first innings to score 82 but coming to bat for the second time in less than 30 minutes, he was removed for duck, trying to dominate Maharaj.
 
Muthusamy then extended Mushfiqur Rahim's lean patch by trapping him leg-before 2. After an epic 191 against Pakistan, Mushfiqur Rahim had gone 10 innings without any half-century.
 
Shanto counterattacked, but Muthusamy and Maharaj continued chipping in with the wicket to leave Bangladesh in danger of being all out below 100.
 
Muthusamy baffled Shanto with a delivery that spun sharply to take the inside edge.
 
Debutant Mahidul Islam Ankon, who was out for duck in the first inning, scored 29 and Hasan Mahmud played some big shots to help Bangladesh go past 100.
 
But Maharaj dismissed Mahidul and Nahid Rana in quick succession to complete his 10th five-for and, in doing so wrapped up Bangladesh innings.