On this day in 2003: Jacques Rudolph begins his Test career with a double century
He experienced a scintillating start to his Test career. On 26th April 2003, Jacques Rudolph scored a resplendent double century in his very first Test innings at the international level. Rudolph scored a sparkling 222* off 383 deliveries to help the South African side pummel Bangladesh by an innings and 60 runs. Let us delve into what happened in this eventful match.
The Bangladesh side took on South Africa at Chattogram. The hosts won the toss and decided to get their willows out. Bangladesh produced a disappointing performance with the bat. The Khaled Mahmud led side could muster a total of just 173 runs on the board. Only Habibul Bashar looked solid and scored 60 off 87 deliveries. The other Bangladesh batsmen failed to step up for their side.
Paul Adams was the star performer for the South African side with the ball and scalped a five-wicket haul. In reply, even though South Africa lost their skipper Graeme Smith and Herschelle Gibbs early, the duo of Rudolph and Boeta Dippenaar destroyed the Bangladesh bowling attack.
#OnThisDay – Jacques Rudolph scored a double century on debut for South Africa, becoming the 5th batsman to do so pic.twitter.com/hnZwkpCEOU
— ICC (@ICC) April 26, 2016
The duo was involved in a mammoth undefeated partnership of 429 runs for the third wicket. While Rudolph scored a classy 222*, Dippenaar helped himself to a score of 177*. And, South Africa declared their first innings with a total of 470/2 on the board.
In reply, the hosts once again put up a poor performance with the bat. Paul Adams once again picked up a five-wicket haul, as Bangladesh was shot out for just 237. Habibul Bashar was the top scorer for the Bangladesh side in the second innings too and scored 75. Apart from Adams, bowling legend Shaun Pollock also scalped 2 wickets, as South Africa thrashed Bangladesh by an innings and 60 runs.
And, for his double century in his maiden Test appearance, Jacques Rudolph won the Player of the Match award. Rudolph went on to play 48 Test matches for South Africa and scored 2622 runs in the whites. But he will forever remember the date 26th April 2003, as it was on this date that he started his Test career with a bang, by scoring a splendid double century.
