Bangladesh’s Towhid Hridoy and Jaker Ali etched their names in the record books with a historic partnership in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, putting together a 154-run stand for the sixth wicket against India in Dubai. Their remarkable effort came at a time when Bangladesh was struggling at 35/5, showcasing resilience and determination under immense pressure. This partnership is now the highest for the sixth wicket or lower in Champions Trophy history, surpassing the previous record of 131 runs set by South Africa’s Justin Kemp and Mark Boucher against Pakistan in Mohali during the 2006 edition. 

Other notable partnerships in this category include New Zealand’s Chris Cairns and Chris Harris, who added 122 runs against India in Nairobi in 2000, and India’s Rahul Dravid and Mohammad Kaif, who shared a 117-run stand against Zimbabwe in Colombo (RPS) in 2002.

Hridoy and Jaker’s heroic effort not only revived Bangladesh’s innings from a precarious position but also set a new benchmark in the tournament’s history. Their resilience and composure under pressure turned the tide for Bangladesh, making this partnership one of the most memorable moments of the Champions Trophy.

Earlier, Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto won the toss and opted to bat first in their opening game of the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 campaign against India at the Dubai International Stadium on Thursday.

Bangladesh and India are placed in Group A along with Pakistan and New Zealand in their group. After this fixture, both teams will face Pakistan and New Zealand in their next two matches in the ongoing marquee event.

Bangladesh (Playing XI): Tanzid Hasan, Soumya Sarkar, Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Towhid Hridoy, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Jaker Ali, Rishad Hossain, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman

India (Playing XI): Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, Harshit Rana, Mohammed Shami, Kuldeep Yadav.

Sherfane Rutherford in action© AFP

Bangladesh will face South Africa in the second Test without wicketkeeper-batter Jaker Ali, who has been ruled out due to a concussion sustained during training at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram on Sunday. “Jaker Ali suffered a concussion while batting in practice yesterday [Sunday],” Bangladesh’s physio Bayjedul Islam Khan said, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo. “He has a history of concussions and is still showing symptoms. Given his previous record, recovery may take some time. Based on clinical findings, he has been ruled out of the second Test,” he added.

Mahidul Islam Ankon has been called up as Jaker’s replacement, marking his first inclusion in the Bangladesh Test squad.

Jaker, who scored a half-century on his Test debut in the first Test against South Africa, also has experience from 19 T20I appearances since his debut earlier this year. His absence due to injury has paved the way for Mahidul, who has been in strong form in domestic cricket, including a recent 118-run knock for Dhaka Division against Sylhet Division.

Known for his first-class contributions, including three centuries for Dhaka Division in the National Cricket League (NCL), Mahidul also represented Bangladesh A in a match against Pakistan A in August.

Additionally, Bangladesh selectors have called up fast bowler Khaled Ahmed to replace Taskin Ahmed in the squad as they prepare for the upcoming match against South Africa.

Recapping the first Test, Kagiso Rabada entered the top five of South Africa’s all-time leading wicket-takers in international cricket with 536 scalps, achieving match figures of 9/72. He also became the sixth Proteas bowler to reach 300 Test wickets, achieving the milestone in record time by balls bowled.

Kyle Verreynne became only the third wicketkeeper to score a Test century in Asia, following AB de Villiers and Quinton de Kock.

Bangladesh’s Najmul Hossain Shanto won the toss and opted to field, but South Africa’s pacers and spinners dominated in favourable conditions, bowling Bangladesh out for just 106. Kagiso Rabada, Wiaan Mulder, and Keshav Maharaj each took three wickets, with Mahmudul Hasan Joy top-scoring for Bangladesh with 30 off 97 deliveries.

Bangladesh’s spinners mounted a fightback, with Taijul Islam (5/122) and Mehidy Hasan (2/63) sharing seven wickets between them. However, a gritty century from Kyle Verreynne (114 off 144 balls, with eight fours and two sixes) supported by Wiaan Mulder (54 off 112 balls, with eight fours) and Dane Piedt (32 off 87 balls, with two fours) helped South Africa amass a commanding 202-run lead, posting 308 runs in their innings.

South Africa’s bowlers seized control again in the third innings, with Rabada leading the attack as Bangladesh faltered to 112/6. Mehidy Hasan (97 off 191 balls, with 10 fours and a six) provided resistance, building crucial partnerships with the lower order to reach 307. Rabada ended with impressive figures of 6/46, his best in Asia.

Chasing 106 runs, South Africa’s batsmen completed the target with ease in the fourth innings, led by Tony de Zorzi’s 41 off 52 balls, with seven fours, and Tristan Stubbs’ unbeaten 30 off 37 balls, including four boundaries and a six, sealing a seven-wicket victory.

Half-centuries by Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Jaker Ali helped Bangladesh into an 81-run lead over South Africa before bad light brought an early finish to day three of the first Test on Wednesday. The hosts were 283-7 in Mirpur when the umpires called stumps about an hour before the scheduled finish, with Mehidy on 87 and Nayeem Hasan on 16. Bangladesh spin bowling coach Mushtaq Ahmed said he believed his side could still snatch its first ever Test win against the visitors. “We have to bat as long as we can, score consistently, and get whatever lead we can,” he said.

“When we can start believing, we can come back and we fight,” he added. “When you don’t give up, the opposition also respects you.”

South Africa only bowled five overs in the last session and fewer than 58 overs were played through the day after a rain interruption cut the second session short.

Mehidy and debutant Jaker added 138 runs for the seventh wicket to save Bangladesh from an innings defeat after they resumed at 101-3, chasing down South Africa’s 202-run first-innings lead.

Jaker was eventually trapped lbw by left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj for 58.

“Obviously Bangladesh has done really well today. Conditions got a little bit better, if I’m honest, with a slightly used ball,” Maharaj said.

“But I think we’re still ahead,” he added. “Bangladesh have a lead and we’ve got three wickets more to go. We can restrict them as much as possible, but I still feel we’ll be in the bouncing seat.

In the morning, South African pace bowler Kagiso Rabada took advantage of overcast conditions to take two wickets in three balls during the fifth over.

Mahmudul Hasan Joy departed after making 40 when his attempted drive found a thick edge to first slip, where David Bedingham took the catch.

Rabada’s fourth wicket of the innings came two balls later as he sent Mushfiqur Rahim‘s middle stump cartwheeling out of the ground with a full delivery that nipped back. The right-hander made 33.

Wicketkeeper Litton Das followed for just seven as he edged a sharply turning delivery from Maharaj to wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne and the dismissal was confirmed as caught on review, after an initial shout for lbw.

South Africa scored 308 in their first innings, powered by Verreynne’s second Test century, in reply to Bangladesh’s 106 all out on the first day.

Bangladesh have never won a Test against South Africa.

The second and final match of the series begins on October 29 in Chattogram.