WATCH: THIS Punjab Kings pacer sets new record as South Africa post first win in Asia after 10 years

Kagiso Rabada has become the first South African pacer to claim six wickets against Bangladesh in a Test match, having achieved this feat in the 1st Test match in Dhaka.

South Africa and Punjab Kings pacer Kagiso Rabada set a new record in the 1st Test against South Africa at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka on Thursday (October 24). Rabada became the first SA pacer to take six wickets in a Test match against Bangladesh bettering Makhaya Ntini’s 5/19 against the hosts.

Thanks to Rabada’s 6/46, Bangladesh were bundled out for 307 in their second essay in spite of all-rounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz’s 97 off 191 balls. That left the visitors with 106 to win and post their first win in Asia after 10 years.

WATCH Kagiso Rabada’s match-winning spell against Bangladesh in Dhaka HERE…

Kagiso’s scintillating six-wicket haul 🔥

Rabada’s spell of 6/46 propelled South Africa to their first Test win in the sub-continent since 2014! #BANvSAonFanCode pic.twitter.com/or8qrAW0UM

— FanCode (@FanCode) October 24, 2024

SA have also climbed to number four in ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 standings.  The Proteas improved their point percentage to 47.62 with the victory, which helped them jump over New Zealand and England and take fourth place on the standings.

Bangladesh’s loss sees their point-percentage drop to 30.56 and they continue to languish in seventh place with India and Australia still remaining in the top two spots on the standings. Bangladesh’s Najmul Hossain Shanto won the toss and elected to field against South Africa, but the decision backfired as South Africa’s pacers and spinners thrived in helpful conditions, bowling out Bangladesh for merely 106. Kagiso Rabada, Wiaan Mulder, and Keshav Maharaj picked up three wickets each. Mahmudul Hasan Joy top-scored for Bangladesh with 30 in 97 deliveries.

Bangladesh’s spinners fought back, with Taijul Islam (5/122) and Mehidy Hasan (2/63) sharing seven wickets between them but a fighting ton from Kyle Verreynne (114 in 144 balls, with eight fours and two sixes) backed by support from Mulder (54 in 112 balls, with eight fours) and Dane Piedt (32 in 87 balls, with two fours) helped South Africa gain a massive lead of 202 runs. SA was skittled out for 308 runs.

“It is a really good performance. It was incredibly tough for the team to put four days of good cricket together although most of the damage was done on day one. Bowlers were great there and then the batters helped us get a great lead. When you get a lead like that, it’s tough for opposition to come back. Credit to Bangladesh for making us graft yesterday but to knock them off was a good feather in the cap,” South African captain Aiden Markram said after the win on Thursday.

South Africa bowlers took charge once more in the third innings with Rabada leading the way and had the hosts at 112/6 at one stage. However, Mehidy Hasan (97 in 191 balls, with 10 fours and a six) resisted for Bangladesh, stitching important stands with the lower-order to get the side to 307. Rabada eventually finished with 6/46, his best bowling figures in Asia.

Needing 106 runs to win, South Africa had little trouble during their chase in the fourth innings, guided by Tony de Zorzi’s 41 in 52 balls, with seven fours and Tristan Stubbs’s 30 not out in 37 balls, with four boundaries and a six, taking the game by seven wickets.

The second Test between Bangladesh and South Africa will be played from October 29 in Chattogram.