Keshav Maharaj and Simon Harmer shattered the high ambition of Bangladesh to win Test series against South Africa at their home when the spinners shared all 10 wickets to bundle out the visitors within an hour of the fifth day for 53 runs to inflict a 220 runs defeat.
Maharaj and Harmer, the spin duo bowled only 19.5 overs and conceded only 53 runs to finish the Bangladesh’s second innings and it was the first time South Africa used only two bowlers to book any opposition after none of the seamers were called on in the second innings.
In fact Maharaj did the main job to guide South Africa to enthusiastic win when the spinner grabbed seven wickets for 32 runs in 10 overs to dismiss Bangladesh for the lowest total in an innings at Kingsmead.
Along with the Moharaj’s best bowling at home ground, Harmer joined the celebration picking up three wickets for 21 runs in nine overs.
It was the second-lowest total for Bangladesh in Tests and lowest against South Africa after a disastrous end of the match. Despite strongly remained on confrontation till the last half-an-hour on the fourth day, requiring 274 runs to win Bangladesh saw the awful condition.
Eying to chase a mammoth fourth innings target (274 runs) Bangladesh saw the real disaster at the late hour on fourth day losing three wickets for eight runs and were 11 for 3 overnight but lost seven for 42 on the fifth morning.
Meanwhile, only two batsman, Najmul Hossain Shanto and Taskin Ahmed could manage double figures with 26 and 14 respectively and four batters gone for ducks.
Bangladesh, though began the Test series in Durban with high hope following their impressive ODI win in Centurion, responded well booking the hosts on 367 in the first innings on the second day.
Despite some disappointing batting display from the recognized batters, a scintillating 137 runs innings with responsible batting from Mahmudul Hasan Joy gave Bangladesh a respectable total to complete their first innings for 298 runs.
Bangladesh bowlers, Mehidy Hassan Miraz, Ebadot Hossain and Taskin Ahmed kept Bangladesh on contest to alive their hope after booking the hosts for 224 runs in their second innings to set for the winning target of 274 runs.
But regrettably, Bangladesh batters disappointed all failing to even illustrate their fighting spirit when they collapsed very cheaply failing to face the spinners Harmer and Maharaj, the only bowlers SA captain Dean Elgar used.
