Rabada wrecks hosts after Mulder’s maiden ton

South Africa declared their first innings at a daunting 575/6 thanks to Tony de Zorzi’s 177 and Wiaan Mulder’s unbeaten 105, before the tourists reduced Bangladesh to 38/4 on Day 2 of their second Test.

Mominul Haque was batting on six with Najmul Hossain Shanto unbeaten on four with Bangladesh trailing by 537 runs when poor light brought play to a close early.

Mulder endured nervy moments and dived into the crease to avoid being run out before his first century in Tests, but he got there in the next over with a big six down the ground off spinner Taijul Islam and raised his arms aloft. With De Zorzi and Tristan Stubbs also getting their maiden centuries, it marked only the second time in Test history that three batsmen had done so in the same innings. Gerry Gomez, Robert Christiani and Clyde Walcott were the first trio, when the West Indies faced India in 1948.

After South Africa’s stand-in captain Aiden Markram called time on their innings, Kagiso Rabada gave them the ideal start by removing Shadman Islam for a duck and Zakir Hasan for two before Mahmudul Hasan Joy fell to Dane Paterson for 10.

Nightwatchman Hasan Mahmud was castled by Keshav Maharaj for three, leaving Bangladesh in deep trouble.

Brief scores: South Africa: 575/6 dec (de Zorzi 177, Stubbs 106, Mulder 105*; Taijul 5/198); Bangladesh: 38/4 (Rabada 2/8, Maharaj 1/4)

Rabada dethrones Bumrah as No. 1 Test bowler

Dubai: South Africa quick Kagiso Rabada has dethroned Indian pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah as the top bowler in the latest ICC Men’s Test Player Rankings. Rabada took his 300th Test wicket during the seven-wicket triumph over Bangladesh in the first Test. Bumrah, who failed to take any wicket in the second Test against New Zealand in Pune, has dropped two places and is now third, behind Australian fast bowler Josh Hazlewood. Veteran off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has also dropped two spots to be fourth with Australia skipper Pat Cummins rounding up the top five among bowlers. Pakistan spinner Noman Ali is a new member inside the top 10 after his heroics in the final Test against England. New Zealand’s hero Mitchell Santner also earned a new career-high rating for his 13-wicket haul in Pune. The left-arm spinner has risen 30 rungs to move to 44th. Among batters, young opener Yashasvi Jaiswal rose a rung to third.