Maharaj delighted for Mulder: 'He has taken a lot of flak'

Proteas spinner Keshav Maharaj defended team-mate Wiaan Mulder following the all-rounder's stellar performance thus far in the second Test against Bangladesh at St George's Park.

On Saturday, Maharaj and Mulder shared an 81-run partnership for the seventh wicket as the duo's run-scoring put the visitors on the back foot.

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Maharaj top-scored with 84, while Mulder started off sluggishly but went on to score a handy 33 off 77 balls (three fours and a six) as the Proteas posted 453 in their first innings.

In their pursuit of SA's target, Tamim Iqbal and Nazmul Hossain Shanto shared a 79-run partnership before the introduction of Mulder.

Mulder struck in his first over, trapping Iqbal on the pads for 47 and then went on to hitting Shanto's (33) knee pad, which was referred and given out.

However, Mulder's superb bowling spell at an overcast Gqeberha continued as he once again trapped Bangladesh skipper Mominul Haque lbw for six.

Bangladesh eventually ended at 139/5 at stumps on Day 3, with Mulder's current figures sitting at 3/15 off his just six overs (including three maidens).

Maharaj believes that Mulder has not been given the acknowledgement he deserves, stating that the all-rounder has shown his value.

"I think he has taken a lot of flak from the media. If you look at the innings he played, in the second Test in New Zealand, he showed his capabilities and what he can do with the bat," Maharaj told reporters on Saturday.

"Obviously, he never crossed over the line and got a fifty, but I think just the partnerships that he has been involved in have been very good for us.

"And he showed that once again today, he knuckled down and got a good ball that