Frugal Bangladesh find luck on their side

Bangladesh have not had many days in Test cricket when luck has been on their side throughout. The first day of the Chittagong Test against South Africa was such a day.

They enjoyed the fortune of a strangle down the leg side against the run of play, the wicketkeeper taking a catch after a couple of attempts and a dive, a legspinner taking two wickets with long-hops and a third when the ball stuck between the short-leg fielder's arm and stomach off a full-blooded pull.

South Africa were bowled out for 248 runs with minutes left on the opening day. Only twice have Bangladesh dismissed a team on the first day - West Indies in 2009 and Zimbabwe last year. It is a far bigger deal to do it to a team that had beaten them in all eight Tests so far, and seven times by an innings.

But more than the plain luck that seemed to be involved in five dismissals, Bangladesh's success was earned through hard work. Mohammad Shahid's string of 50 dot balls, Mustafizur Rahman's three wickets in four deliveries, and the spinners' control ensured a steady stream of wickets.

Bangladesh had once again kept Rubel Hossain out of a Test, but the selection - a debutant and a seamer with three Tests' experience - worked for them after a tough first session. While Mustafizur ripped through the South African middle order, it was Shahid and Jubair Hossain who created the pressure after lunch for such a collapse. Shahid bowled seven maidens on the trot, ensuring that runs were not leaked. He did not do anything flashy but ensured Dean Elgar and Faf du Plessis didn't get the opportunity to free their arms or feet with tight lines and lengths - what you expect from a bowler with a steady rock-back action.

South Africa had produced partnerships of 58 and 78 for the first two wickets but Elgar and du Plessis stalled after lunch, the effect of a softer ball as explained later by Temba Bavuma.

Jubair, too, began accurately and troubled both Elgar and du Plessis with his variations. Googlies ripped into du Plessis' pads and he was beaten a few times by legbreaks that just missed the outside edge. Another big legbreak bothered Elgar as it climbed into him. Mushfiqur Rahim had brought Jubair on only after lunch and he was immediately effective, with loud appeals close to the bat being a regular feature of his first spell.

Mustafizur capitalised on the pressure his team-mates had exerted and took three wickets in four balls in the 60th over. He also claimed the last wicket of Bavuma to cap off another successful debut. Jubair cashed in later, picking up three wickets - just reward for his hard work.

Bangladesh had made their own luck by stifling the batsmen for 19 overs with relentless pressure. If their batsmen put in similar hard work, another day of fortune will put the world's No. 1 Test side under pressure.