During the first Test between Bangladesh and South Africa at the Sher-e-Bangla Stadium in Mirpur, Proteas captain Aiden Markram faced an unplayable delivery from Bangladesh pacer Hasan Mahmud. The match was already tense when Markram, opening the innings with Tony de Zorzi, walked out to bat, hoping to establish a solid lead. However, Mahmud’s lethal delivery rattled the visitors early on.
In just the first over of South Africa’s innings, Mahmud bowled a length ball angled into the stumps that left Markram completely off guard. Expecting the ball to move outward, the South African skipper misjudged the line. The ball darted between bat and pad, crashing into Markram’s middle stump, leaving him visibly stunned and giving Bangladesh a crucial early breakthrough.
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Earlier, Bangladesh won the toss and opted to bat first, but their decision backfired almost immediately. South Africa’s bowling attack, featuring the likes of Kagiso Rabada, Wiaan Mulder, and Keshav Maharaj, dismantled Bangladesh’s batting lineup.
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Mahmudul Hasan Joy’s 30 was the only notable score as the hosts crumbled for a mere 106 runs. By tea on Day 1, South Africa was positioned at 65/2 after 16 overs, with Tony de Zorzi (19*) and David Bedingham (9*) at the crease. However, South Africa also faced setbacks, losing Tristan Stubbs for a well-played 23.
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Despite these early challenges, the Proteas trailed Bangladesh by only 41 runs, with plenty of batting left to come. Notably, Aiden Markram was captaining the team in place of regular skipper Temba Bavuma, who missed the match due to a muscle strain in his left triceps. Markram, although dismissed cheaply, was tasked with leading South Africa through this challenging series in the subcontinent.
