South Africa vs Bangladesh: A lead of 386 to cover for Bangladesh with seven wickets
Dismissing Bangladesh batters early in the first innings, expanding the lead in their second innings to declare with ten overs remaining and striking wickets of the top three batsman of Bangladesh before stumps. That's a lot to happen on a day of a Test match.
Simon HarmerBangladesh batters efforts outshone by Proteas Bowlers.
Mushfiqur Rahim and Yasir Ali continued the first innings for Bangladesh from a 17-run partnership off 48 balls from Day 2 as the team was at 139 for a loss of five wickets. Both the batters looked comfortable on the pitch. They stitched a 162-ball partnership to fetch 70 runs. Keshav Maharaj opened the account of wickets today by dismissing Yasir Ali for 4-runs short of his half-century. Mehidy Hasan Miraz joined Mushfiqur Rahim on the crease; however, Simon Harmer bowled him out at 51. Credit to Keshav Maharaj and Simon Harmer that Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam, and Ebadot Hossain were dismissed in quick succession for 11, 5, and 0 runs.
South Africa's quick declaration left a target of 412.
After taking the complete Bangladesh team down for 217, the hosts had a lead of 236 runs. They started their second innings to expand their lead over the visitors. Sarel Erwee partnered with captain Dean Elgar to make 41 and 26 runs each in a 69-ball partnership. Khaled Ahmed and Taijul Islam kept their momentum alive to send openers back to the pavilion, followed by Keegan Petersen. There were small partnerships seen between Temba Bavuma (30), Ryan Rickelton (12), and Kyle Verreynne (39). Proteas' skipper Dean Elgar declared at the fall of the sixth wicket in the form of Wiaan Mulder as they succeeded in posting a lead of 412 on the scoreboard for Bangladesh.
Bangladesh is already in great trouble in their second innings.
In response, Bangladesh's top-order came out and tried to negotiate with spin and luck. However, Keshav Maharaj struck Mahmudul Hasan Joy (0) in the very first over and accounted for one more in the form of Najmul Hossain Shanto (7). Simon Harmer too kept plugging away and was rewarded off the final ball with the wicket of Tamim Iqbal (13).
The visitors were reduced to 27/3 at stumps in the second innings. South Africa needs 7 wickets to win with ample runs to defend. Looks like a huge win coming in the way for South Africa to seal the series by 2-0.