Mirpur, Bangladesh, Oct 24 (AFP/APP/DNA):South Africa cruised to a seven-wicket win over Bangladesh in the first Test on Thursday with fast bowler Kagiso Rabada the star of the show in Mirpur.
Rabada took 6-46 as Bangladesh went from 283-7 overnight to 307 all out, leaving the visitors a victory target of 106.
Rabada finished with 9-72 in the match, having become the fastest bowler to reach 300 Test wickets during the first innings.
“It’s special,” stand-in captain Aiden Markram said of a victory that was sealed before lunch on day four and gave South Africa a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.
They move up to fourth in the World Test Championship standings.
“A pretty young group, or slightly inexperienced group… to come to the subcontinent and get a win is great for us,” Markram added.
Left-arm spinner Taijul Islam took all the wickets to fall in his 3-43, but he failed to slow South Africa’s chase as they reached 106-3.
Tony de Zorzi top-scored with a quickfire 41 off 52 balls, hitting seven fours.
Fellow opener Markram was first to go, bowled by Taijul for 20.
De Zorzi departed in the 16th over trying to play a big shot over long-on, caught by Hasan Mahmud.
David Bedingham was third out caught behind by wicketkeeper Litton Das.
Tristan Stubbs, unbeaten on 30, ensured there were no further alarms.
“He has been a superstar for us for years,” Markram added of Rabada.
“And to see all those stats pop up about him… it really proves that he’s one in a million, and we’re really lucky to have him on our team.”
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