DHAKA, Nov 15, 2026 (BSS) – Towhid Hridoy struck his second consecutive Test century as Bangladesh recovered from an early collapse to post a record 327-6
on the opening day of the first Test against South Africa at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg yesterday.
Hridoy scored a brilliant 137 while Liton Das remained unbeaten on 92, guiding Bangladesh to their highest-ever Test total on South African soil, surpassing their previous best of 320 all out at Potchefstroom in 2017.
The duo shared a remarkable 206-run partnership for the fourth wicket, Bangladesh’s highest partnership against South Africa in Test cricket, eclipsing the previous record of 138 set by Jaker Ali Anik and Mehidy Hasan Miraz in Mirpur in 2024.
Kagiso Rabada ended the day with 5-51, while Marco Jansen took one of the prized scalp of Hridoy in what was the last delivery of the day.
Hrody’s dismissal brought an end to the astonishing partnership between him and Liton.
Rabada left Bangladesh in embarrassing situation in the first hour of the game after Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto won the toss and elected to bat first.
But the batters had no answer against a devastating spell of Rabada with the new ball. Bangladesh slumped to 22-3 in ninth over after being unable to deal with Rabada, raising a prospect of facing more misery.
The lanky fast bowler struck in the first ball of the innings, making it a nightmare debut for Mahfijul Islam Robin.
He moved the ball admirably just outside off, luring Mahfijul a drive and a outside edge carried at fourth slip where Marco Jansen didn’t make any mistake to hold on it clearly and sent back him for golden duck in his first Test outing.
In his second over, Rabada removed Mominul Haque for naught, undoing him with an extra bounce before flattening the stump of skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto (12) with a scrambled seam delivery.
In form Hridoy, fresh from his epic 242 not out against West Indies, and opener Tanzid weathered the attack of Rabada and his co fast bowlers to keep the side relevant in the game when it looked Bangladesh would face a mental breakdown in tough condition.
They negotiated Rabada threat astutely and kept the side unscathed.
Tanzid played some adventurous shots but survived eventually to raise his second fifty in the last over before lunch. He slog-swept left-arm spinner Simon Harmer for boundary toward deep square leg to bring up his second Test half-century from 79 balls.
However, Rabada won the battle eventually as he rattled Tanzid stump with a quick delivery, ending his 67 off 108, featuring 12 fours.Rabada completed his 18th five-for in Test cricket in the immediate next delivery when he had Mushfiqur Rahim caught by Harmer at third slip for duck.
Liton Das survived the hat-trick delivery and together with Hridoy kept Bangladesh in the hunt.
Hridoy raised his fifty from 99 balls with a single off Marco Jansen. After completing the fifty, he accelerated the innings by taking some calculative risk.
His unwavering resolve and determination paid off when he raised his second century from 194 balls, hitting Dane Paterson a boundary through third man region.
Hridoy then came on heavily on South African bowlers, playing his shots at will while Liton accumulated runs serenely at the other end.
However, when the second new ball was taken, Rabada looked threatening as Hridoy had to take blow on his body quite a few times.
The incredible knock finally came to an end when Jansen trapped Hridoy leg-before in a low full toss delivery in the last ball of the innings.
