Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur sparkles on Test debut with a burst of four South Africa wickets

Bangladesh’s pace revelation Mustafizur Rahman has burst onto the Test scene with another stellar show against South Africa in Chittagong after his magnificent performance in the ODIs.

He snared four wickets in a burst, including three in four balls. But Quinton de Kock denied him a hat-trick on debut at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium on Tuesday.
 
The Tigers captain Mushfiqur Rahim played his part by showing great knowledge of his bowlers’ capabilities and, in the process, used Mustafizur masterfully in short spells.
 
Mustafizur went on to lead the assault bowling out South Africa for measly 248 on the opening day, a feat they have achieved only third time.
 
The 19-year old had lit up the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium with a record-breaking 13 wickets in the ODI series against India last month.
 
Mustafizur’s performance on Tuesday somewhat mirrored his five-wicket haul on ODI debut against India.
 
He was not impressive in his first spell in the first ODI against India conceding 27 in 4 overs without a wicket.
 
He had sent back Suresh Raina and Ravichandran Ashwin off successive balls. He took out Ravindra Jadeja two balls later after missing out on the hatrick.
 
Similarly on Tuesday, he went wicket-less for 20 in 5 overs without a maiden in his first spell after opening the bowling with Mohammad Shahid.
 
Skipper Mushfiqur, however, should be given much credit for having Mustafizur bowl in short bursts.
 
After being taken off the attack in the 12th over of the South Africa innings, Mahmudullah replaced him and reaped immediate result. He got the first breakthrough in his second over to send Stiaan van Zyl back after the tourists had started promisingly.
 
Mustafizur started his second spell with a maiden and conceded 9 runs in three overs. 
 
He experimented with both his length and pace to create all sorts of trouble for the batsmen. He revved up to 140km now and then, but a wicket still eluded him as the first session drew to an end with South Africa 104 for one in 28 overs.
 
After lunch, Mustafizur and Taijul tightened the screw on Dean Elgar (47) and Faf du Plessis (48), who shared South Africa’s highest stand of 78.
 
Mushfiq replaced Mustafizur with the spin of Shakib Al Hasan after the seamer had conceded just a run in four overs with three maidens in his third spell but still remained without a wicket.
 
The star allrounder struck with his first ball to dismiss du Plessis after Taijul had sent back Elgar in the previous  and triggered South Africa’s slide which was a result of the pressure early in the session.
 
Paceman Shahid added to the pressure by bowling seven consecutive maidens but he ended up as the only Tigers’ bowler without a wicket.
 
But the second session squeeze, in which the tourists scored 61 for two in 29 overs, became a post-tea rout as Mustafizur came back to bowl his fourth spell.
 
The Proteas captain Hashim Amla (13) was all set to lead his team to a recovery with AB de Villiers’ replacement Temba Bavuma when Mustafizur laid waste to the middle-order in his 14th over.
 
Amla pushed away from his body and was caught behind to become Mustafizur’s maiden Test scalp. The young seamer then trapped Jean-Paul Duminy leg-before on review in the next delivery.
 
That put Mustafizur on a hatrick, bringing him on the verge of sharing the rare achievement with the likes of England pacer Maurice Allom, New Zealand offspinner Peter Petherick and Australia fast bowler Damien Fleming.
 
But De Kock managed to fend off the hatrick ball. The out-of-form Proteas batsman, however, found his off stump uprooted by a well-angled dipper in the next.
 
After taking 3 for 6 in four overs in his fourth spell, Mustafizur wrapped up the Proteas’ first innings with the scalp of topscorer and the only half-centurion, Bavuma (54).
 
South Africa lost their last nine wickets for just 112 runs. 
 
Mustafizur conceded after the match that the performance on Tuesday was more crucial as it was a Test. But he did not mention the wickets were those of more recognised batsmen of top ranked Test side.
 
The Satkhira teen returned Bangladesh’s second-best figures on Test debut, 4 for 37 in 17.4 overs, surpassing Ziaur Rahman 4 for 63.
 
His left-arm seam bowling predecessor Manjurul Islam holds the record haul on Test debut for Bangladesh, 6 for 81 against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo in 2001.