Bangladesh target a 200-run lead against SA, fueled by a belief in victory

|| CF DESK ||

At the start of the day, many might have dismissed the idea of a Bangladesh comeback as a far-fetched dream, however, Bangladesh made a remarkable turnaround thanks to the batting efforts of Jaker Ali Anik and Mehidy Hasan Miraz. Spin bowling coach Mushtaq Ahmed expressed that a belief in victory is beginning to spread within the team.

In the Mirpur Test, Bangladesh was bowled out for a mere 106 runs in their first innings, while South Africa responded with 308, taking a commanding 202-run lead. By the third morning, the visitors were in complete control, and with Bangladesh reeling at 112-6, an innings defeat seemed inevitable.

But from that risky position, Miraz and debutant Jaker stitched together a 138-run partnership, lifting the team out of trouble. Later, Mehidy added an unbeaten 33-run stand with Nayeem Hasan, and remained not out on 87, taking Bangladesh to an 81-run lead by the end of the third day.

If Bangladesh can stretch their lead to 200 or more, they could create a real chance of winning the match, as chasing any triple-figure target on a fourth-innings Mirpur pitch is a challenging task.

With the third day's play shortened due to rain and bad light, the match will now head into the fourth day. After the day's play, spin coach Mushtaq spoke to the media, emphasizing the team’s growing belief.

"From my perspective, we must keep believing. We have belief in any situation. When you have belief, you can challenge any opposition. We need to bat for as long as possible, keep building the score, and extend the lead as much as we can."

Mushtaq also expressed confidence in adding over 100 more runs with the remaining three wickets, stating, "We believe we can push for a lead of over 200. The coaching staff and players are starting to believe. In cricket, you need to maintain belief in any situation. We will focus on fighting and sticking to the process rather than worrying about the result."

Despite Bangladesh trailing by 200 runs after the first innings, Mushtaq is now optimistic that victory is within reach, saying, "Why not win? You have to believe. It’s about staying true to the process and not giving up. When you don’t give up, the opposition starts respecting you."