‌BAN vs SA | Stubbs and de Zorzi’s maiden ton keeps South Africa atop on opening day

Arijit Kundu

ByArijit Kundu, SportsCafe Editor

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Maiden centuries from Tony de Zorzi and Tristan Stubbs pushed South Africa to 307/2 at Stumps on the first day of the second Test against Bangladesh. Bangladesh bowlers toiled hard under sweltering conditions and ended up extracting just a couple of wickets at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium.

Riding on the back of a victory in the first Test against Bangladesh, South Africa captain Aiden Markram’s decision to bat first during the toss paid dividends with Tony de Zorzi assisting him in a 69-run opening stand. The ploy to bring spin early, worked for the hosts as Markram fell cheaply at 33 before Tristan Stubbs joined hands with de Zorzi in negating the opposition. The southpaw pair quickly helped South Africa trace the hundred-run mark at the stroke of Lunch with the score of 109/1. 

Resuming their innings in the second session, Stubbs and de Zorzi struggled to penetrate the tight field setting from the hosts for quite some time. As the spinners kept things tight, the pair milked their way with strike rotation before Stubbs executed a perfectly timed backfoot punch against Hasan Mahmud in the 41st over, ending a boundary drought of 75 balls. Subsequently, Mehidy Hasan Miraz leaked boundaries from one end with de Zorzi notching up his maiden Test century at the cusp of the Tea break.

Ticking on from 205/1, de Zorzi played second fiddle to Stubbs in the first hour of the third session with the latter’s scoring rate slowing down as he neared the century mark. He joined his partner in no time by racking up maiden century with a cracking cut stroke in the 73rd over. Soon, a low-kept delivery got the better of him, paving the way for David Bedingham at no 4. After facing a few deliveries and settling the nerve, the right-handed batter stepped down the ground and smoked a six down the ground to propel South Africa past 300. However, the light didn’t support the play long enough after the second new ball was taken with South Africa’s score reading 307/2 in 81 overs at Stumps.

What day for SA here!

Real star boy!🔥🔥 

Brilliant innings!

He gonna do more tomorrow!

Yes he is!

True! He looks bit same in helmet!

True that!

Great!

Great batter he is!

What a day!

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