Bangladesh is looking to make the most of the confidence it gained from the drawn Chittagong Test to face South Africa in the final Test of the month-long tour here.
The host restricted South Africa to just 248 in the first innings at Chittagong and then scored 326 to take a 78-run lead before rain washed out the last two days. Bangladesh still had a 17-run lead when the match was called off.
The host will draw inspiration from that for the second Test that starts at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium here on Thursday.
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“I have said before that if we could draw the Test, it would be a big achievement for us. We batted, bowled and fielded positively in Chittagong. It is unfortunate that it rained but we were positive,” Bangladesh opener Imrul Kayes said.
Although incessant rain saw Bangladesh get its first ever draw against the top-ranked Test team, it is quite happy with the way it stuck to its plans.
Kayes and Tamim Iqbal were involved in a gritty 46-run opening stand in the first Test and dealt with the pace of Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel and Vernon Philander. But the aggression they showed in the Tests against Pakistan was completely missing.
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“We are playing against the world’s top team. They bowl in the right areas and rarely bowl bad ones. Chittagong’s wicket is such that you can stay at the wicket but can’t play shots,” Kayes explained.Bangladesh’s new wicketkeeper Liton Das has shown great potential in just two Test innings, against India and South Africa. Kayes believes the 20-year-old is full of promises.
Fine player “Liton is a fine player. He has a bright future ahead of him. The way he bats, he’ll play at a much higher level.”
He had scored 44 against India before hitting his maiden Test half-century at Chittagong. Both the Tests, however, were marred by rain that did not allow Bangladesh to play its second innings.