In chase of a steep target, Bangladesh lost three top-order batters in quick succession late in the third session of the fourth day in their first Test against South Africa at Kingsmead in Durban today.  

Bangladesh, who have been set a 274-run target by the Proteas, were left reeling at 11 for three before umpires called Stumps early due to bad light. The Tigers will need 263 more runs to win the Test. 

The top-order meltdown was orchestrated by the South African spinners Keshav Maharaj and Simon Harmer. Harmer, who had accounted for four Bangladesh top-order batters in the first innings, gave the first breakthrough to the hosts when he had left-handed opener Shadman Islam drawn into a shot only to induce an edge off his willow. Shadman was caught at slip by Keegan Petersen as the Tigers lost their first wicket. 

Maharaj, after going wicketless in the first innings, then joined in the action as he went through the bat and pad to rattle the stumps of Mahmudul Hasan Joy, the lone centurion of the Test. 

Maharaj then went on to trap Bangladesh skipper Mominul Haque in the penultimate ball of the same over as the Tigers found themselves in deep water. Mominul was dumbfounded as he went on his backfoot to negotiate a good length ball that was coming in towards the left-hander. Mominul failed to get his bat down in time as he hit the back of his pad with it while the ball went on to hit him on the pads. 

The Bangladesh skipper did not opt for a review as South Africa celebrated vehemently.  

SA set Tigers a 274-run target

Two quick run-outs late in the third session of the fourth day saw South Africa bundled out for 204 in their second innings against Bangladesh in the first Test at Kingsmead in Durban today.

South Africa, however, have a healthy lead and set a 274-run target for the Tigers, who will have a few overs today and the entire day tomorrow to chase it down. 

It seemed as if South Africa were planning to bat the entire day and extend their lead as much as possible. The likes of Simon Harmer and Ryan Rickelton, in fact, were looking settled in the middle till a moment of brilliance from substitute fielder Nurul Hasan Sohan had changed the complexion of the play suddenly. 

With only one stump to aim at, Sohan effected a direct hit all the way from the boundary line after running to collect the ball that was played through cover to have Harmer run-out. That wicket ended a 17-run stand between Harmer and Rickelton, leaving the Proteas eight down. 

Just in the first ball of the very next over, Lizaad Williams was run-out. Williams completed a single and after the initial throw hit wicketkeeper Liton Das' pad and had ricocheted behind square leg, the batter tried to sneak a single and was later turned down by his partner at the other end. Williams, however, could not make it back to the crease on time as a quick throw from Mominul Haque had caught him well short. 

Pacer Ebadot Hossain then wrapped the Proteas' innings up by trapping in front number eleven batter Duanne Olivier. 

Earlier in the session, Taskin Ahmed and Mehedi Hasan Miraz had scalped the wickets of Keshav Maharaj and Wiaan Mulder respectively.  

Tigers dominate second session but SA extend lead

Bangladesh dominated proceedings in the second session but South Africa still accumulated a healthy second-innings lead on the fourth day of their first Test at Kingsmead in Durban today. 

South Africa were 157 for five with a lead of 226 runs as umpires signaled for Tea. 

Bangladesh bowlers, after being frustrated by missed opportunities and close calls that did not go their way in the morning session, turned things around after Lunch. A total of four wickets were scalped in the 28 overs bowled in the second session. 

Taskin Ahmed, who, along with pacer Shoriful Islam, is set to return to Bangladesh after the end of the Durban Test, ended a crucial 68-run stand between South Africa skipper Dean Elgar and Keegan Petersen when he had trapped infront the former just after Lunch. 

Off-spinner Mehedi Hasan Miraz, alongside keeping things tight from one end, also accounted for the wickets of Keegan Petersen and Kyle Verreynne while Yasir Ali took a stunning one-handed catch at slip off an Ebadot Hossain delivery to dismiss Temba Bavuma. 

Bangladesh will hope to do more of the same when they get back from the Tea break while South Africa will look to extend their lead further before sending Bangladesh to bat in their second innings. 

Yasir takes stunner as Tigers spark life into Durban Test

After a frustrating morning session, Bangladesh were able to spark life into the game, thanks mostly to the one-handed stunner by Yasir Ali to dismiss Temba Bavuma, following Lunch on Day 4 of their first Test against South Africa at Kingsmead in Durban today. 

Bangladesh got three wickets so far post-Lunch and the best of the lot was the wicket of Bavuma, South Africa's top-scorer of the first innings. 

Yasir, who was guilty of dropping Elgar earlier, took a one-handed stunner to get rid of Bavuma. Ebadot Hossain had induced a thick edge off the bat of the right-handed batter and Yasir, at the lone slip, went low to his left to take a screamer that left everyone in disbelief. 

It has been a frustrating day for the Tigers in all sense. Despite dominating the morning session throughout, Bangladesh were only able to get one breakthrough -- that of Sarel Erwee on eight off 51. 

It was only after Lunch that Bangladesh were able to dismiss South Africa skipper Dean Elgar, who rode on his luck plenty of times on his way to a stuttering 102-ball 64. His innings came to an end when a Taskin Ahmed delivery, after pitching in on a good length area, nipped back sharply to hit the left-hander on the pads. 

But despite looking like a decent appeal, Bangladesh had to review it after umpire Marais Erasmus had turned it down initially. However, with three reds shown in the review, the decision was overturned. 

Keegan Petersen, who too was lucky to have survived a plumb LBW appeal before Lunch, then fell to Mehedi Hasan Miraz after the right-hander was caught at short-leg by Mahmudul Hasan Joy, who reacted sharply to grasp the ball. 

South Africa's lead passed the 200-run mark but the Tigers, with such efforts and quick wickets, now seem to have their tail up and more energised to make a comeback in the game.