DHAKA, Oct 22, 2024 (BSS) - Bangladesh fast bowler Hasan Mahmud stressed building a big partnership to put the side on the front foot in the first cricket Test against South Africa, who had already taken an iron grip on the match at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.

Resuming the Day 2 at 140-6, South Africa were all out for 308, taking a 202-run first innings lead. At stumps, Bangladesh, which were bowled out for a meager 106 in the first innings, reached 101-3, still needing 101 to make South Africa batting for the second time.

In the wake of the situation, a defeat looked on the cards but Mahmud believes Bangladesh still can win the match if they set a target for 200 runs for South Africa.

And to do that, they need a big partnership, he said. He indeed pinned hopes on Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudul Hasan Joy who were batting with 38 and 31 runs respectively after adding 52 runs for the unbeaten third wicket stand.

"Joy and Mushfiqur have been spending a good time in the crease. I think if they can build a big partnership, it will come in handy for us," Mahmud said here today after the Day 2 game. 

"It is imperative to make a big partnership. Everyone should bat with the intention of making a big partnership indeed. I think if we can set them a 200-run target, we'll win the match and to do that we need to play at least three sessions and big partnership from our batters tomorrow."

While pacers got success in this pitch, Bangladesh came up with just one pacer in Hasan Mahmud, probably predicting the pitch would favour the spinners. The decision raised the question of whether Bangladesh made a mistake in reading the pitch.

Hasan Mahmud himself justified that there is ample support for pacers also by taking 3-66.

"No matter how many pacers are in the team. Everyone has the responsibility to take the wicket. Like batting, bowlers also should bowl in partnership. We are trying to do that."

Bangladesh basically let them down by batting poorly and the thing has been now recurrent. While the bowlers continued to do well, batters failed to back them up properly, making Bangladesh vulnerable in the Test format. 

"We lost wickets in cluster and that's not in our control. I think we should concentrate more during our batting," he said.