South Africa register first Test win in Asia in 10 years

South Africa have thrashed Bangladesh by seven wickets at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka to take a 1-0 lead in the two-match Test series. 

The victory is the Proteas’ first Test win in Asia in 10 years, with the last victory in the continent coming back in July 2014 against Sri Lanka in Galle. With the win, the Proteas have also snapped their losing streak in Asia: they entered this Test having lost each of their last nine Tests in the subcontinent, with the losing streak starting against India in Nagpur in 2015.

This is also South Africa’s first Test win in Bangladesh in 16 years. The side’s last Test win away in Bangladesh came back in 2008 in Chattogram under the leadership of Graeme Smith. Incidentally, it was the same game in which Smith and Neil McKenzie added 415 runs for the opening wicket, which is, to date, still the highest opening partnership in Tests.

With the win, South Africa have ensured that they are still very much in the race to make it to the final of the ongoing World Test Championship (WTC) cycle. Thanks to the win, South Africa have leapfrogged New Zealand in the points table. They now have a PCT of 47.62%.

The Proteas have five Tests remaining - 1 vs BAN (A), 2 vs SL (H), 2 vs PAK (H). If they win each of their remaining five Tests, they will finish with a PCT of 69.44% and will most certainly make it to the final. 

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