Left-arm spinner Taijul Islam became the only second Bangladeshi bowler to reach the milestone of 200-wicket after Shakib Al Hasan. His landmark moment came on Monday (Oct 21) on the Day-1 of the first cricket Test against South Africa in Mirpur when he dismissed Ryan Rickelton as his fourth scalp. He then rattled the stump of Matthew Breetzke to complete his 13th five-wicket in his career.
While Shakib reached the landmark of 200 wickets in his 54th matches, Taijul achieved the feat in 48 matches and thus making him the fastest to 200-wicket haul.
Offspinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz is in the pipeline to complete 200-wicket next, but it is certain that he won't get past Taijul as the fastest to the feat. Miraz grabbed 183 wickets till now, playing 48 matches, same as Taijul.
Shakib has 246 wickets in 71 matches under his belt. Taijul's 13th five-wicket haul is also only second to Shakib's 19th.
Taijul indeed brought Bangladesh back into the contest after the batters let the team down. Opting to bat first, Bangladesh were bowled out for just 106 in little less than three hours.
However, when it looked, South Africa will take the total control of the Test, Taijul helped the Tigers hit back to leave the game in parity.
Hasan Mahmud firstly broke through in the first over, taking the wicket of South Africa stand-in skipper Aiden Markram. Taijul then got into action, claiming the next five wickets, leaving South Africa tittering at 108-6.
