De Zorzi takes South Africa to dominant spot at lunch as the visitors end the first session at 109/1 in the second test.
De Zorzi and Aiden Markram shared their third opening stand of fifty or more in four Test matches.
In lieu of Temba Bavuma, who was injured, Markram decided to bat first, and South Africa collected runs at a very easy pace against a four-man Bangladeshi attack.
22-year-old Nahid Rana was added by the hosts as an additional seamer. And he split the new ball with Hasan Mahmud. Although he was unable to force a false stroke, Rana’s early signals were impressive as he swung the ball away from Aiden Markram and hit speeds of over 140 kph. Instead, Markram hit Hasan off the back foot through the covers in the third over to score the opening boundary as South Africa read the bounce brilliantly. He demonstrated his entire drive range by pushing off Rana with his front foot.
Taijul Islam was introduced by Bangladesh in the fifth over as they decided to spin early, but the sole half-chance of the first hour came at the other end. Hasan’s fourth over began with De Zorzi edging the first ball just past rookie wicketkeeper Mahidul Islam, who was unable to reach the ball.De Zorzi didn’t back down in response.
In the following over, he sent Hasan flying over cover for four after slog-sweeping Taijul for six. At a rate of 4.6 runs per over, South Africa reached their fifty-run mark in just 11 overs and reached refreshments on 60 without losing.
It was soon spinning from both ends and bringing some success, with a hint of turn on offer. When de Zorzi blasted Mehidy Hasan Miraz through mid-wicket for four, he shown aggression. Markram then went down the track to a Taijul ball that was not as short as he had expected. At mid-on, he chipped it to Monimul Haque.
Bangladesh was able to reverse the situation once Markram was fired. Even though Tristan Stubbs played himself out, they managed to hold off giving up a boundary for 21 deliveries. After he reverse-swept Miraz behind point, he got his first four, but Bangladesh tightened the strain again.
Before de Zorzi’s magnificent cover drive reached South Africa’s hundred, another twenty-eight balls were bowled for just fourteen runs. For the second time during the session, Hasan failed to hit de Zorzi’s edge with his subsequent ball, but de Zorzi managed to survive. One lunch break away from a third Test fifty, he went.