'We're not on the back foot'

With Bangladesh staring at almost certain defeat, three wickets down for 49 after the fourth day and 375 runs adrift of the target of 424 set by South Africa in the first Test at Potchefstroom’s Senwes Park, the blindly optimistic bluster continued from the Bangladesh camp.

It was wicketkeeper Liton Das’s turn to bat away questions and assert Bangladesh’s positive post-day outlook that has regularly crossed into foolhardiness during this Test.

“I don’t think we are on the back foot,” said Liton Das with a straight face after the fourth day ended with the entire evening session washed out. “We might have something better if there’s a good partnership tomorrow.”

Just to recap, Bangladesh’s chase of 424 started with them being reduced to zero for two as opener Tamim Iqbal was bowled and number three Mominul Haque was adjudged leg-before in the first over from Morne Morkel, a decision that would have been overturned upon review but that was a course of action that Mominul declined to take upon the advice of Imrul Kayes. Kayes himself was the third wicket to fall, caught behind off Keshav Maharaj for 32, after a 49-run partnership with Mushfiqur, a dismissal that signalled the tea break and eventually the end of the day.

“Those in the field should know better what exactly happened,” said Liton about Mominul’s dismissal. “It was missing the leg-stump so it would have been better had he taken the review.

“They [South Africa] bowled very well in the second innings. We have to fight in the middle tomorrow. We will try hard,” Liton added. “By the time they declared, the weather had become dicey. There were clouds around so there would be movement from the pace bowlers. But the thinking was that we will play our natural game in the middle. Wicket can fall so we were not too worried about it.”

When it was suggested to him that Bangladesh had never quite been in the game -- since the first day when Mushfiqur Rahim sent South Africa in on a flat pitch only to see the hosts pile up 496 for three in the first innings -- there was a hint of indignation in Liton’s voice when he said: “We were never out from the game. We didn’t get wickets but we were always in the game. It is a tough situation but we will keep fighting on the fifth day.

“It is hard to win from this position. We have to try to draw the game. We have to execute our plan in the middle.”

With Morkel going off the field injured in the middle of his sixth over and seemingly unlikely to play any further part, Liton identified left-arm spinner Maharaj as the main threat on the fifth day. “I think the wicket is a bit slow. I have kept for 200 overs already. The challenge is Maharaj. There will be turn on the fifth day as well.

“Usually 300-350 runs aren’t often scored on the fifth day. We have already lost three wickets, so we will try to do well tomorrow.”

The bluster on the microphone has so far not translated into performance on the field. Maybe the fifth time’s the charm.