Bangladesh’s newest bowling sensation Mustafizur Rahman turned the first day of the first Test against South Africa on its head with an incredible performance on debut.
The left-arm pacer took three wickets in four balls in his 14th over to knock the stuffing out of Proteas middle-order.
With Mustafizur bowling with his tail up, South Africa suffered a major collapse to lose their last nine wickets for 112 runs after a solid first session at Chittagong.
Mustafizur Rahman took four wickets for 37 runs in 17.4 overs after South Africa chose to bat first by winning the toss.
19-year old Mustafizur has carried over his ODI form into his first Test match in the most fantastic manner, stamping his authority in the game with pace and guile.
He fooled South Africa captain Hashim Amla to a loose stroke outside the off-stump and sent him back for 13 runs almost immediately after play began in the second session.
Next ball, Mustafizur had JP Duminy in all sorts of trouble. The Proteas batter missed a low, straight delivery and found himself in front of the wicket.
Quinton de Kock survived the hat-trick ball but did not have any answer to Mustafizur’s jaffer next ball as he was clean bowed for naught to leave South Africa struggling at 173 for 6.
Mustafizur struck again in his 17th over to dismiss South Africa’s top-scorer Temba Bavuma for 54 runs and wrap up the Proteas innings at 248.
In the 3-match ODI series against South Africa, Mustafizur bowled 24 overs and gave away only 77 runs. He took 5 wickets with 3/38 being his best return in the 2nd ODI at Dhaka.
With his clever variation of deliveries as well as pace, Mustafizur has been quite a handful for visiting teams, as India and South Africa found out recently.
Mustafizur was a revelation in the maiden series win over India, took 5 for 50 in his debut ODI, then 6 for 43 in the 2nd match to give his side a precious victory.
With Mustafizur firing in all cylinders, Bangladesh hope he can remain fit and continue to deliver the goods in the coming days as well.