A spectacular collapse by the South African batting order after tea saw them bowled out for 248 as Bangladesh took control of the first Test in Chittagong on Tuesday.
Debutant Mustafizur Rahman claimed three wickets in four balls to swing the momentum in Bangladesh’s favour after South Africa had made a good start.
Bangladesh had to face two overs before the end of play was called and they will resume day two on 7-0.
Rahman finished on 4-37 after he removed Hashim Amla, JP Duminy and Quinton de Kock in the space of four balls, which took South African from 173-3 to 173-6.
Amla (13) chased a wide delivery and was caught in the slips, before Duminy got caught in the crease lbw by the first ball he faced. He was given not out, but Bangladesh reviewed the decision and Duminy had to go.
De Kock managed to block out his first ball, but got clean bowled the next delivery as the Tigers rattled the batsmen and put them under severe pressure.
Vernon Philander (24) joined Temba Bavuma in the middle and together they managed to rebuild the innings with a 35-run partnership before Philander was caught at slip after being dropped for 18 a few balls earlier.
Bavuma (54) was the good news story of the South African innings. Playing in just his second Test, the short right-hander batted with patience and calculated aggression and showed the more experienced batsmen how it’s done.
Simon Harmer faced 37 balls for his nine runs, but he was caught in quite bizarre fashion at short-leg trying to go at a long hop. The ball was lodged between Mominul Haque’s arm and leg as the fielder turned his back on the batsman while anticipating the shot.
The ball stuck and at 237-8 Bangladesh were into the South African tail. Dale Steyn (2) didn’t bother to stick around for long as he whacked a short ball moving away from him off the back foot and into the air.
Jubair Hossain (3-53) was the chief destroyer of the tail.
South Africa had started the day well, Dean Elgar (47) and Stiaan van Zyl (34) sharing a 58-run opening stand before Van Zyl played at a leg side delivery and was caught behind.
Elgar and Faf du Plessis (48) continued to lay the foundation for a big first-innings score by sharing a partnership of 78 runs, but after they departed the downward spiral escalated as despite Bavuma’s best efforts, he just didn’t have the support to mount a significant resistance.
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