SA vs BAN | Day 3 | Maharaj, Harmer spun their web as Proteas on the verge of a clean sweep

Bangladesh are on the brink of an embarrassing defeat in the ongoing second Test match against South Africa at St George's Park in Port Elizabeth. Chasing a massive target of 413, the Tigers are reeling at 27 for the loss of three wickets at the end of the third day, owing to some brilliant bowling display by the Proteas spinners, Keshav Maharaj and Simon Harmer.

The day began with Bangladesh needing 115 more runs to avoid the follow-on in reply to South Africa's first innings total of 453. Yasir Ali provided a promising start to the visitors as he smashed Lizaad Williams for three consecutive fours in the first three deliveries of the day. 

The Tigers cruised from 139 to 192 in the span of mere 113 deliveries before Keshav Maharaj struck for the hosts by getting rid of the dangerous Yasir Ali in the 6th over of his new spell. Yasir played a dynamic knock of 46 runs off 87 balls, which involved seven glorious boundaries.

After Yasir's dismissal, Mehidy Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim frustrated the South African bowlers for eight overs, taking the team's total to 206 at the end of the 68th over. The decision of Dean Elgar to bring Simon Harmer to bowl the 69th over proved to be a boon for the hosts as the skilled off-spinner disturbed the stumps of Rahim (51), thereby playing a crucial hand in exposing the tail of the visitors' batting line up. 

Although Taijul Islam and Mehidy Hasan safely negotiated the remaining nine deliveries before lunch, the Bangladesh lower-order fell off like a pack of cards against Harmer and Maharaj within just 4.2 overs of the post-lunch session, which resulted in the visitors getting bowled out for 217. Harmer and Mulder took three wickets each from the hosts' side, while Olivier and Maharaj equally shared the remaining four wickets. 

In reply, South Africa didn't opt to enforce the follow-on to make the batting more difficult for the visitors on the constantly deteriorating surface. Instead, all the South African batters seemed focused to accomplish the task of posting some quick runs on the board. They were able to achieve this objective courtesy of the useful knocks by Sarel Erwee (41 off 66), Dean Elgar (26 off 29), Temba Bavuma (30 off 56) and Kyle Verreynne (39* off 30). As a result, the Proteas declared their second innings on 176 for 6 in 39.5 overs.

Chasing a mammoth target of 413, Bangladesh had the worst possible start as Mahmudul Hasan Joy was sent back to the pavilion by Keshav Maharaj in the very first over. In his very next over, the veteran left-arm spinner wreaked havoc in the visitors' camp by trapping Najmul Hossain Shanto plumb in front of the stumps for just seven runs. 

However, the experienced duo of Tamim Iqbal and Mominul Haq retaliated for 40 deliveries and took the Tigers to 27 at the end of the 9th over. But Bangladesh suffered another massive blow as Simon Harmer found the edge of Tamim's bat at the stroke of stumps in the first ball of the 10th over. 

Tamim's wicket marked the end of the day's play, with Bangladesh needing 386 more runs to win with seven wickets in hand at stumps on day 3. However, the surface is aiding the spinners, and Bangladesh have a mountain to climb against a rejuvenated Proteas bowling attack.

Brief scores: Bangladesh (1st inns): 217 all out, Mushfiqur Rahim-51, Tamim Iqbal- 47, Yasir Ali- 46, Wiaan Mulder- 3/25, Simon Harmer- 3/39

South Africa (2nd inns): 176/6 (dec), Sarel Erwee- 41, Kyle Verreynne- 39, Taijul Islam- 3/67, Mehidy Hasan- 2/34

Bangladesh (2nd inns): 27/3, Mominul Haque- 5*, Keshav Maharaj- 2/17, Simon Harmer- 1/8

Bangladesh need 386 runs.