Bangladesh are looking at a heavy defeat as the Tigers lost three top-order batters after being brought to bat in their second innings late on Day 3 in their series-deciding second Test against South Africa in Gqeberha today.

Bangladesh, in chase of a mammoth 413-run target, lost openers Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Tamim Iqbal and Najmul Hossain Shanto and were reduced to 27 for three at the close of play. Bangladesh require 386 runs more with seven wickets in hand.

South Africa opened with spinners from both ends and their ploy came off as left-armer Keshav Maharaj removed both Joy (0 off 1) and Shanto (7 off 10) early in the innings before off-spinner Simon Harmer had Tamim caught at slip just before Stumps.  

With South Africa spinners Maharaj and Simon Harmer getting massive turns off a three-day-old Gqeberha surface, it will be a matter of survival for the Bangladesh batters tomorrow. 

The experienced pair of Tamim Iqbal and Mominul Haque remain unbeaten but it will take a humongous effort from the Tigers if they are to even save face in the Test.  

Earlier, South Africa bundled out Bangladesh for just 217 before deciding to bat in the second innings instead of enforcing a follow-on. The Proteas went on to score 176 for six before declaring, setting a daunting target. 

SA declare late on Day 3 to set mammoth target

South Africa declared late on the third day of their series-deciding second Test against Bangladesh as they set a mammoth total for the Tigers to chase in Gqeberha.

The Proteas scored 176 for six before declaring, setting a target of 413 runs, in the final hour of the day's play today. 

The declaration came right after Mehedi Hasan Miraz knocked the stumps of Wiaan Mulder.   

Taijul Islam has been the standout performer for Bangladesh, scalping three wickets in the second innings to finish with a match haul of nine for 202 in 65 overs. He had the chance of being the first Bangladeshi bowler to have bagged a 10-wicket haul in overseas Test but had to settle with being only the third Bangladeshi bowler -- after Mehedi Hasan Miraz (against Zimbabwe in Harare in 2021) and Robiul Islam (against Zimbabwe in Harae in 2013) -- to bag a nine-wicket haul in away Tests.   

South Africa, who decided to bat instead of enforcing a follow-on after bundling Bangladesh out for 217 in their first innings earlier on the day, scored at a brisk pace since coming on. Their openers set the tone with a rapid 60-run stand.

Sarel Erwee top-scored for the hosts with a 66 for 41. 
 

Bangladesh's Taijul Islam celebrates taking the wicket of South Africa batter Keegan Petersen. Photo: AFP

Taijul takes two but SA race away

Taijul Islam accounted for two South Africa batters but the hosts have extended their lead past the 300-run mark on the third day of their series-deciding Test in Gqeberha today. 

South Africa scored 84 for the loss of two wickets, leading by 320 runs, in their second innings before players headed for Tea.

After deciding to bat instead of enforcing a follow-on, South Africa openers got off to a blistering start. The quick-fire 60-run opening stand between Sarel Erwee and South Africa skipper Dean Elgar ended only when the latter lost his stumps trying to play a reverse sweep off a Taijul delivery.

Taijul ended another growing stand, between Erwee and Keegan Petersen, just at the stroke of Tea. The left-arm spinner set up Petersen for an LBW as he had a delivery go in with the arm just after turning one sharply away from the right-hander. The ball snuck through the gap and struck the batter on his back leg. 

SA bat again with 236-run lead 

Bangladesh could not survive long after the Lunch break as the Tigers lost their last three wickets in quick succession early in the second session on the third day of their series-deciding second Test against South Africa at St George's Park in Gqeberha today. 

Having bundled out Tigers for just 217 in their first-innings, South Africa, who piled up a mammoth 453-run first-innings total, decided to bat again instead of enforcing a follow-on which was very much on the cards. The Proteas will have a lead of 236 runs in their second innings.  

All the last three wickets – those of Taijul Islam, Mehedi Hasan Miraz and Ebadot Hossain –  fell in similar fashions with the batters trying to go for big heaves, in an attempt to try and score some quick runs to get to the bare minimum of the score required to avoid follow-on.

However, the Tigers' hopes, if left any for this game, were dented before the Lunch break when two set batters in Mushfiqur Rahim and Yasir Ali threw their wickets away after going through the first hour of the day's play unscathed. 

Yasir, playing only in his fifth Test, could still be forgiven for giving a leading edge back to the bowler Keshav Maharaj after trying to play him against the spin. But Mushfiqur, on 51 off 136 deliveries, losing his off-stump after an unnecessary attempt to play a reverse sweep just five minutes before the Lunch break is unpardonable given that Bangladesh desperately needed another partnership at that moment.