Twitter reactions: Tristan Stubbs’ maiden Test century for South Africa puts Bangladesh under pressure on Day 1 of the 2nd Test

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Tristan Stubbs smashes his maiden Test century for South Africa in the second and final Test against Bangladesh on Day 1 in Chattogram. His exceptional innings, combined with Tony de Zorzi’s composed century, has put South Africa in a commanding position. The visitors ended the day on 307/2, overcoming sporadic Bangladesh breakthroughs in challenging light conditions.

Tristan Stubbs’ maiden century sets the stage for South Africa

Stubbs’ impressive knock of 106 runs from 198 balls was the highlight of South Africa’s innings on Day 1. Coming in at No. 3, Stubbs displayed immense composure as he steadied South Africa’s innings against Bangladesh’s disciplined bowling attack. Entering after captain Aiden Markram‘s dismissal at 69, Stubbs initially took his time, facing several dot balls and cautiously navigating the early challenges posed by Taijul Islam and Mehidy Hasan Miraz. With Bangladesh trying to keep his scoring under control, Stubbs focused on rotating the strike and picking gaps in the field, preventing the bowlers from building pressure.

His patient approach saw him scoring fewer boundaries initially, which helped him settle in while reading the variations from the spinners. Stubbs waited for the right deliveries, carefully choosing which to defend and which to nudge for singles, maintaining South Africa’s momentum. Over time, he accelerated, bringing out powerful drives and lofted shots once he was well set. His resilience and adaptability showcased his maturity as he went on to score his maiden Test century, a crucial innings that fortified South Africa’s position in this decisive Test.

Tony de Zorzi and Stubbs forge a vital partnership

Alongside Stubbs, Tony de Zorzi also demonstrated remarkable skill, anchoring the innings with a composed 141* off 211 deliveries. Their partnership for the second wicket amassed 201 runs, frustrating the Bangladeshi bowlers and building a formidable platform. De Zorzi showed immense patience, strategically rotating the strike and taking calculated risks, including three sixes. This robust partnership brought stability after Markram’s dismissal and was key to South Africa’s commanding 307/2 score by stumps.

Also READ: Fans laud Tony de Zorzi as he hits his maiden century on Day 1 of the 2nd Test – BAN vs SA

Bangladesh bowlers struggle for breakthroughs

Bangladesh’s bowling unit, led by Taijul Islam, struggled to contain the South African batters on Day 1. Taijul provided the only two breakthroughs, dismissing both Markram and Stubbs, but lacked adequate support from the pace attack. Hasan Mahmud and Nahid Rana failed to apply sustained pressure, allowing South Africa to accelerate in the later sessions. Despite some challenges posed by spin, Bangladesh’s bowlers will need a more concerted effort on Day 2 to prevent South Africa from posting an overwhelming first-innings total.

Here’s how Twitter reacted:

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