Sports Desk: Zaker Ali Anik was dismissed by a bad shot in the first innings of his Test debut. He scored only 2 runs. That Zaker was seen in a different form in the second innings at Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla. Mehdi Hasan teamed up with Miraj to resist standing in the ruins. However, Zaker took the way to the dressing room without breaking the pair's record.

Zaker Ali Anik

Zak and Mirage, however, did not have time to think so much about statistics and records. Because before the lunch break on the third day against South Africa in Mirpur, Bangladesh was facing an innings loss. Zaker-Miraj made a partnership of 138 runs in the seventh wicket in dangerous conditions. Which is Bangladesh's highest run pair for any wicket in a Test against South Africa. The previous record was in 2003. Habibul Bashar Sumon and Javed Omar Belim added 131 runs for the second wicket partnership against the Proteas in Chittagong. The pair of Bangladesh crossed 100 both times in the Test against South Africa.

Trailing by 202 runs, Bangladesh went into bat in the second innings on the second day yesterday. The hosts scored 101 for 3 in 27.1 overs when they went into bat today on the third day. South Africa took advantage of the cloudy weather early in the morning. First, Kagiso Rabada returned Mahmudul Hasan Joy and Mushfiqur Rahim with a double hit. Liton Das also made his way to the dressing room quickly (7 runs from 7 balls) and Bangladesh scored 112 runs for 6 wickets.

While Rabada, Keshav Maharaj's balls were acting like 'death spells', Zaker and Miraj were not fazed at all. This Bangladeshi batsman handled the Protea bowlers with a cool head. Both picked up fifty. Mirage got the ninth fifty of his Test career off 94 balls. Anointed Zaker reached the first fifty of his Test career off 102 balls. Zaker picked up his fifty off the fourth ball of the 73rd over with four off Dane Peet. Zaker-Miraj played 245 balls to make a record partnership of 138 runs for the seventh wicket. Maharaj broke the partnership by trapping Zaker lbw on the first ball of the 76th over. Zaker could not live with the reviews. Scored 58 runs off 111 balls. After Mosaddek Hossain, Zaker became the second Bangladeshi to reach number 8 to score a fifty in his debut Test.

Bangladesh-South Africa first Test at Mirpur on day two had to end early due to lack of light. On the third day, it rained heavily. Bangladesh scored 267 runs for 7 wickets in 80 overs till writing this report. Mirage is batting on 77 runs.

Bangladesh's best five pairs in the Test against South Africa

Zaker Ali Anik-Mehedi Hasan Miraj 138 Saptam Mirpur 2024

Habibul Bashar Sumon-Javed Omar Belim 131 II Chittagong 2003

Mahmudullah Riyad-Mushfiqur Rahim 94 IV Mirpur 2015

Mahmudullah Riyad-Tamim Iqbal 89 III Chittagong 2015

Habibul Bashar Sumon-Hannan Sarkar 84 II Potchefstroom 2002