Morne Morkel twin strike rocks Bangladesh
POTCHEFSTROOM: MORKEL’S SENSATIONAL START COULD HAVE BEEN EVEN BETTER AS HE WAS DENIED A THIRD WICKET BECAUSE OF A NOBALL.
South African fast bowler Morne Morkel took two wickets in the first over of Bangladesh’s second innings on the fourth day of the first Test at Senwes Park on Sunday.
Bangladesh were 49 for three at tea after being set to make 424 to win. Morkel took two for 19 before leaving the field with what appeared to be a rib or side injury after bowling two balls of his sixth over.
Morkel’s sensational start could have been even better because he was denied a third wicket because of a no-ball.
Morkel, bowling around the wicket, bowled Tamim Iqbal with his fourth ball, a superb delivery which straightened off the pitch and hit the off stump. Two balls later he won a leg before decision against Mominul Haque, who made a top score of 77 in Bangladesh’s first innings.
After consulting batting partner Imrul Kayes, Mominul did not seek a TV review of umpire Chris Gaffaney’s decision --- but replays showed the ball would have missed leg stump.
Switching to over the wicket, Morkel uprooted the middle stump of Mushfiqur Rahim, Bangladesh captain, with the second delivery of his next over. But a TV check showed the bowler had over-stepped the bowling crease. A no-ball was called and Rahim was reprieved. It was a world record 14th occasion on which Morkel was denied a Test wicket because of a no-ball.
Brief Scores: South Africa 496-3 decl and 247-6 decl (T Bavuma 71, F du Plessis 81; M Rahman 2-30, M Haque 3-27) vs Bangladesh 320 and 49-3 (I Kayes 32,M Morkel 2-19)