Updated ICC World Test Championship Points Table After South Africa vs Bangladesh 1st Test

South Africa secured the second spot in the ICC World Test Championship 2021-23 cycle after their crushing 220-run win over Bangladesh on Monday at the Kingsmead in Durban. South Africa’s spin duo of Keshav Maharaj and Simon Harmer ran through Bangladesh’s batting order as the visitors were bowled out for 53 in just 19 overs.

The Mominul Haque-led side resumed the fifth day with the overnight score of 11/3, the visitors had to chase 263 runs more to win the game with Najmul Hossain Shanto (5*) and senior player Mushfiqur Rahim (0*) were present at the crease.

Keshav Maharaj picks 7/32 in the second innings

Maharaj trapped Mushfiqur LBW in front of the stumps in the very first over of the day and had Liton Das caught by Harmer near the mid-on region in the next over. The left-arm spinner dismissed Yasir Ali to bag his eighth fifer in Test cricket.

Harmer supported Maharaj from the other end to send back Mehidy Hasan and Shanto after the latter clobbered him for a six. Maharaj got Taskin Ahmed on the final ball of the 19th over as the Proteas picked seven wickets in 13 overs to script Bangladesh’s batting collapse in the first session itself.

South Africa second in World Test Championship Points Table

South Africa completed their fourth win in the current cycle of the ICC World Test Championship 2021-3 and they accounted for a total of 48 points with a win percentage of 66.66%.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh is placed in the eighth position above England with just one win from five games. Australia leads the charts after their 1-0 win against Pakistan.

“Quite emotional, playing at home is always special. Glad that I could take the team over the line. It’s just about being patient and hitting my line and length for long periods of time. Simon (Harmer) provided control and that helped me,” player of the match Keshav Maharaj said in the post-match presentation ceremony. 

 “As cricketers, we are impatient at times. The hard work from the first innings paid dividends in the second. I am glad there’s a shift of mindset towards spin bowling in our country. Very happy for Simon,” he added.

The second and final Test between South Africa and Bangladesh will start on April 8 in Port Elizabeth.

Also Read: SA vs BAN: Bangladesh Team Director Khaled Mahmud Urges ICC To Bring Back Neutral Umpires Amid “Poor Umpiring” In First Test