Proteas' spin threat became the biggest wary for the Tigers at the close of day 2 of the first Test at Kingsmead. The nature of the surface had been a bit of a mystery for Bangladesh as they went in with one specialist spinner in Mehedi Hasan Miraz. Proteas have two in their lineup and Simon Harmer bagged all four Bangladesh wickets to fall yesterday.

Bangladesh will be on the backfoot at 98 for four, trailing South Africa by 269 runs.

"The way we had practiced, even though we got out against spin, there were a few good deliveries. There was help for the spinners and they bowled in good areas. There is turn and the ball keeps low. It would have been good if we had been able to take on the challenge," all-rounder Mehedi said at the press conference yesterday.

Dean Elgar opted for close-in fielders to create pressure as the day's play neared its end. After Harmer scalped Najmul Hossain's wicket with a delivery that beat Najmul for flight, the pressure created by close-in fielders resulted in South Africa picking up Mominul Haque and Mushfiqur Rahim's wickets late in the day.

Mahmudul Hasan Joy applied himself well with South Africa resorting to spin from both ends and Miraj was hoping the middle and lower-middle order can come good alongside Joy continuing on tomorrow from his overnight score of 44.

"There is an opportunity tomorrow. Joy is batting well. There is a long way to go still in the match. Joy, Liton [Das], [Yasir Ali] Rabbi and I am there. We will try to take it as far as we can. They will have a difficult time batting in the second innings so the the further we can go in the first innings, the better it will be," Miraz said.