Keshav Maharaj, the South African left-arm spinner, has credited Bangladesh’s Tamim Iqbal for providing valuable advice that has helped him excel in the ongoing Test match in Dhaka. Maharaj has taken six wickets so far, bowling with precision and exploiting the conditions that have favored both seamers and spinners.
Maharaj reached out to Tamim, his former teammate at Fortune Barishal in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), for insights into the Dhaka pitch. Tamim’s guidance proved accurate, as Maharaj noted, “He read the wicket to the tee.”
Maharaj’s performance on the third day was particularly impressive, as he bowled 37 overs and took three wickets for 105 runs. He played a crucial role in keeping the pressure on Bangladesh’s batters, both in tandem with Kagiso Rabada and as the primary threat later in the innings.
Maharaj’s versatility allows him to adapt to different match situations. He can both create opportunities and hold up an end, as he did when Rabada was bowling aggressively. When the ball started to spin, Maharaj posed a greater threat, breaking a crucial partnership and dismissing Jaker Ali.
Maharaj praised the resilience of Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Jaker Ali, who put up a strong rearguard action for Bangladesh. He acknowledged that South Africa struggled to break the partnership for an extended period.
“We threw everything at them, and I don’t think it was a case of us taking our foot off the gas. I think they played really well, and you must give credit towards the batters in that situation,” Maharaj said.
Maharaj’s performance has been a key factor in South Africa’s strong position in the match. They need just three more wickets to bowl out Bangladesh in their second innings and secure a victory.
