Tristan Stubbs smashed three sixes.© AFP

All-rounder Wiaan Mulder struck a fine hundred and in the process helped South Africa equal a unique record — three batters scoring their maiden Test hundreds for the first time in the same Test in 75 years — as the visitors tightened their grip on the second Test against Bangladesh in Chattogram on Wednesday. Mulder scored an unbeaten 105 off 150 balls on the second day of the match and joined Tony de Zorzi (177) and Tristan Stubbs (106) as the third South African batter to reach three figures in the match, helping the visitors post a mammoth 573/6 declared in their first innings.

De Zorzi, Stubbs, and Mulder scored their maiden centuries in their fifth, eighth, and sixteenth Tests respectively, marking a rare occurrence as this is only the second time that such a thing has happened.

The first time this happened was in November 1948, when West Indies toured India. In the first match of the series in Delhi, they scored 631 in the first innings thanks to centuries from Clyde Walcott (152), Gerry Gomez (101), Everton Weekes (128) and Robert Christiani (107). Walcott, Gomez and Christiani scored their first centuries in Test cricket, while it was Weekes’ second.

On Wednesday, South Africa reduced Bangladesh to 38/4 in nine overs in their first innings, with Kagiso Rabada bagging 2-8 in the first over. Dane Paterson and Keshav Maharaj picked a wicket apiece for 15 and four runs respectively as the hosts landed in trouble early on.

Earlier, resuming on their overnight score of 307/2, De Zorzi and David Bedingham continued to add runs at a brisk pace to South Africa’s score. De Zorzi went on to reach 150 off 235 balls while Bedingham completed his half-century in 70 balls, as they added 116 runs for the third wicket. Bedingham was castled by Taijul Islam for 59 and De Zorzi too departed soon, trapped leg-before by Taijul for 177, off 269 deliveries, his knock studded with 12 fours and four sixes.

South Africa lost couple of early wickets before Wiaan Mulder and Senuran Muthusamy (68) not out) got together to put on 152 for the unfinished seventh wicket partnership as South AFrica reached a mammoth total.

With their bowlers striking early blows, Aiden Markram‘s side is in a very good position to push for a clean sweep of the two-Test series after winning the first Test at Mirpur by seven wickets.

Brief scores:

South Africa 575/6 decl (Tony de Jorzi 177, Tristan Stubbs 106, David Bedingham 59, Kyle Verreynne 105 not out, Senuran Muthusamy 68 not out; Taijul Islam 5-198) lead Bangladesh 38/4 in 9 overs (Mahmudul Hasan Joy 10; Kagiso Rabada 2-8) by 537 runs.

Bangladesh vs South Africa 2nd Test Day 2, Live Score Updates© AFP

Tony de Zorzi and Tristan Stubbs put South Africa in command on 307-2 and left Bangladesh floundering after day one of the second and final Test in Chattogram on Tuesday. Both men made their maiden Test hundreds in a second-wicket partnership of 201 after the visitors won the toss and chose to take first use of a good batting pitch as they eye a series sweep. De Zorzi was unbeaten at stumps on 141, with 10 fours and three sixes, and will resume alongside David Bedingham on 18. 

Stubbs played a more conservative innings and hit the mark on his 194th ball by cutting Mominul Haque to the covers for a single.

“To get to the three figures was a big relief, more than anything”, Stubbs said, adding it “definitely ranks as my favourite hundred”.

Taijul Islam was the only bowler to make a dent, first in the morning session by removing Aiden Markram when the stand-in skipper went for a big shot and holed out to Mominul Haque at mid-on for 33.

He bowled Stubbs after tea for 106 when the batsman tried a back-foot punch to the leg side but missed the lowering delivery, which crashed into his stumps. Bangladesh, desperate to take a wicket, have lost two of their three reviews for the innings.

They unsuccessfully appealed for lbw against De Zorzi off a delivery pitched outside leg and again for a caught behind when Stubbs tried to cut Taijul away but missed.

‘Early wickets’

“We need to come tomorrow morning and try to get early wickets to put ourselves in a position to bowl them out,” said Bangladesh coach Phil Simmons, who took up the post just before the series.  

South Africa made two changes to the side that won in Mirpur as they look to seal the series. In came Senuran Muthusamy, an all-rounder who can bowl left-arm spin, and fast bowler Dane Paterson in place of Matthew Breetzke and Dane Piedt.

Bangladesh made three changes, bringing in batsman Zakir Hasan, fast bowler Nahid Rana and wicketkeeper Mahidul Islam Ankon for a debut.

Jaker Ali, who made his debut in the first match, is out after suffering a concussion while Nayeem Hasan and wicketkeeper Litton Das were also omitted. South Africa won the opening Test inside four days with fast bowler Kagiso Rabada taking 6-46 in the second innings. 

Bangladesh have played 24 Tests in Chattogram but won only two with seven drawn.

Bangladesh vs South Africa, 1st Test Day 4, Live Updates© AFP

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