Stubbs and de Zorzi make maiden centuries

CHATTOGRAM: South Africa did well on Tuesday, day 1 of the 2^nd test against Bangladesh, scoring 270 runs off the back of both Tony de Zorzi and Tristan Stubbs scoring centuries, while only losing a single wicket.

South Africa skipper Aiden Markram was caught out on the first ball of the 18^th over. An attempt to slam a ball for six went awry, as the Markram wasn’t able to get as much of his bat under the delivery as he would have hoped. The pall was popped up to mid on where Mominul Haque took the catch. The South African opener made 33 runs off 55 deliveries before being dismissed.

However, the wicket didn’t slow down the Proteas, as Tony de Zorzi and Tristan Stubbs held strong. De Zorzi would bring up third ever fifty in the 29^th over, just a ball after the South African team got a scare from Nahid Rana. Rana found de Zorzi’s back pad as he attempted a flick and missed. Desperate for a breakthrough, Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto used a review, but as the ball was pitching outside leg, the decision stood.

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De Zorzi would bring up his first ever test century in the 55^th over in emphatic fashion, with a beautiful sweep that sent the ball through square leg for four. The South African opener currently stands at 122 off 192 deliveries, having hit eight fours and two sixes in the process.

Stubbs would bring up his second ever 50 in test cricket in the 49^th over, on a single that he hit to mid on. The 24 year old would get a scare of his own in the very next over, as he wasn’t able to get the connection he was looking for on a cut that went past him and to the wicket keeper. However,the question was whether there was any connection at all. Taijul Islam seemed to think so, as he convinced Shanto to use another review. A clear gap between the ball and bat was revealed, and another review was wasted.   

Stubbs would score his own maiden century, right after the drink break in the 73rd over. He cut the delivery from Haque towards deep point for a single, before embracing his partner and celebrating the huge milestone. He currently stands at 106 runs off 196 balls, having hit six fours, and blasting three sixes in the process.

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South Africa currently stand at 270 for 1 after 74 overs.