Test debutant Mustafizur Rahman spearheaded a wonderful Bangladesh bowling performance as they dismissed South Africa for 248 on day one of the first Test in Chittagong on Tuesday.
The 19 year-old left-arm paceman Mustafizur, who was selected on the back of some excellent performances in ODI cricket for the Tigers, took four wickets, including three in one over, to initiate a stunning collapse from the visitors after a relatively good start.
After Proteas skipper Hashim Amla won the toss and elected to bat, openers Stiaan Van Zyl and Dean Elgar put on 58 and looked largely untroubled in the first hour.
Van Zyl, who was opening the batting for the first time in international cricket, was unlucky as he was caught down the legside off spinner Mahmudullah for a stylish 34.
Elgar and Faf du Plessis took the visitors to lunch on 104 for one with both players looking set for big scores. The hosts however came out with renewed vigour in the second session and got rid of both batsmen with the score on 136.
First Elgar was caught by wicketkeeper Litton Das off left-arm spinner Taijul Islam for 47, and then Shakib Al Hasan trapped Du Plessis in front for 48.
Amla and Temba Bavuma, who took the Proteas on to 165 for three, added 37 runs for the fourth wicket when Mustafizur started his heroic spell.
He dismissed Amla (13) and JP Duminy off successive balls and although Quinton de Kock survived the hat-trick ball he was clean bowled the next delivery to leave South Africa in tatters on 173 for six.
Scores
South Africa 248 (Bavuma 54, Mustafizur 4-37, Jubair 3-53)
Bangladesh 7 for no loss

Bavuma, who added 35 with Vernon Philander (24) and 29 with Simon Harmer (9), at least reached his maiden Test fifty, in only his third Test, before he was last man out for 54 to that man Mustafizur.

The home team’s openers Tamim Iqbal and Imrul Kayes negotiated two overs to be seven without loss at stumps to probably complete the Tigers’ best day of Test cricket against South Africa.

Bangladesh will look to carry their recent success in one-day internationals to the traditional Test format when they begin a two-match series against South Africa in Chittagong on Tuesday.

Bangladesh’s Test record remains dismal despite a stellar improvement in ODI cricket which saw the Tigers posting series wins against Pakistan, India and South Africa following their first-ever appearance in the quarter-finals of the World Cup held in Australia and New Zealand.
The Asian minnows have won just seven of their previous 91 Tests, with five of them against fellow strugglers Zimbabwe and the remaining two against an under-strength West Indies side.
But just like in the shorter format, an upward trend is also visible in Tests since January 2013, when Bangladesh played 16 Tests, lost just six, won four and drew the rest.
During the period, they swept Zimbabwe 3-0 and managed creditable draws against Sri Lanka, New Zealand, Pakistan and India, mainly at home.
Now faced with the daunting prospect of tackling top-ranked South Africa, Bangladesh see a draw as a realistic target.
“I think a batting-friendly pitch would be best for us,” said opening batsman Imrul Kayes. “If we can score over 400 runs the game will head towards a draw.
“Against the number one Test team in the world, a draw would be a big achievement.
“The team is in a good rhythm. We won the last four ODI series at home. I think that if we can replicate our ODI form in the Tests, that will be something good for Bangladesh.”
South Africa will look to bounce back from their embarrassing 1-2 defeat in the preceding ODI series, where they were drubbed by heavy margins of seven wickets and nine wickets in the last two matches.
Fearsome fast bowler Dale Styen heads a group of eight players back in the fray after missing the ODI series, who coach Russell Domingo said will add fresh energy to the team.
“We have to move on,” Domingo told the Cricket South Africa website.
“It was a disappointing finish to our one-day series after starting well in the T20’s,” Domingo said, referring to their 2-0 win in Twenty20 international series before the ODIs.
“We have eight new players here which is always great; there is new energy, new ideas and some experience with guys like Dale (Steyn) joining the side.”
The Proteas, who are in a rebuilding process following the retirement of Graeme Smith, Jacques Kallis and Alviro Petersen in recent years, will miss the services of batting mainstay AB de Villiers.
De Villiers, who flew back home after Twenty20s, was given a break from the ODI and Test series for personal reasons, snapping an unbroken run of 98 consecutive Tests.
The second and final Test will be played in Dhaka from 30 July to 3 August.

Bangladesh (from): Mushfiqur Rahim (Capt), Tamim Iqbal, Imrul Kayes, Litton Das, Mominul Haque, Shakib Al Hasan, Mohammad Mahmudullah, Soumya Sarkar, Nasir Hossain, Taijul Islam, Jubair Hossain, Rubel Hossain, Mohammad Shahid, Mustafizur Rahman.

South Africa (from): Hashim Amla (Capt), Faf du Plessis, JP Duminy, Quinton de Kock, Aaron Phangiso, Kagiso Rabada, Morne Morkel, Dean Elgar, Reeza Hendricks, Stiaan van Zyl, Vernon Philander, Dale Steyn, Simon Harmer, Temba Bavuma, Dane Vilas.