KESHAV Maharaj and Simon Harmer starred with the ball as a dominant South Africa edged closer to a series victory over Bangladesh in Port Elizabeth.

Bangladesh resumed at 139-5 on the third day of the second Test, but an efficient Proteas attack picked up where they left off on day two with the ball, dismissing the tourists for just 78 further runs.

The hosts declared at 176-6 in their second innings after Sarel Erwee (41) and Kyle Verreynne (39 not out) helped them to a 412-run lead, before removing Tamim Iqbal, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, and Najmul Hossain Shanto in quick fashion to put themselves on the brink of a 2-0 triumph.

Bangladesh managed to hold off the Proteas attack for much of the morning, reaching 192 without any further losses through the efforts of Yasir Ali (46) and Mushfiqur Rahim (51), but Maharaj’s dismissal of Ali was the catalyst for a fine display of bowling from the hosts.

One day after producing the best batting performance of his Test career to drag South Africa to 453 in their first innings, Maharaj removed Mehidy Hasan Miraz (11), while Harmer dismissed Mushfiqur, Taijul Islam (five), and Ebadot Hossain, the last of the trio for nought.

The hosts went in search of quick runs when they picked up the bat, reaching 60 before captain Dean Elgar was dismissed by Taijul for 26.

Erwee, Verreynne and Bavuma (30) then posted decent returns to set the tourists a mammoth target, before Elgar declared in hope of a rapid victory.

Bangladesh’s second attempt with the bat began in even worse fashion than their first, with Hasan Joy caught by Wiaan Mulder from Maharaj’s first ball.

Maharaj and Harmer claimed another wicket apiece before the day was through, with the former sending Hossain Shanto for just seven runs and Harmer dismissing Iqbal for 13.

The hosts now appear certain to clinch the series on day four, with the below-par tourists needing 386 to level the series.

Maharaj superb once more
Having recorded just his fourth Test half-century to put South Africa in a commanding position on day two, the 32-year-old spinner starred in more typical fashion on day three.

He set the home attack on their way by adding two more first-innings wickets, before claiming two dismissals for just 17 runs as the visitors saw their top order decimated later in the day.

Harmer gets in on the act
Harmer was also outstanding with the ball, claiming the other three wickets at the end of Bangladesh’s first innings before wrapping up a fine day’s work by dismissing Tamim. (Sportsmax)

SOUTH AFRICA 1st innings 453
Bangladesh 1st innings o/n 139 for 5
Tamim Iqbal lbw Wiaan Mulder 47
Mahmudul Hasan Joy c Sarel Erwee b Duanne Olivier 0
Najmul Hossain Shanto lbw Wiaan Mulder 33
Mominul Haque lbw Wiaan Mulder 6
Mushfiqur Rahim b Simon Harmer 51
Liton Das b Duanne Olivier 11
Yasir Ali c&b Keshav Maharaj 46
Mehidy Hasan c Duanne Olivier b Keshav Maharaj 11
Taijul Islam c Lizaad Williams b Simon Harmer 5
Khaled Ahmed Not Out 0
Ebadot Hossain c Lizaad Williams b Simon Harmer 0
Extras 4b 2lb 0nb 0pen 1w 7
Total (74.2 overs) 217 all out
Fall of Wickets : 1-3 Joy, 2-82 Iqbal, 3-85 Shanto, 4-100 Haque, 5-122 Das, 6-192 Chowdhury, 7-210 Rahim, 8-216 Islam, 9-217 Miraz, 10-217 Chowdhury
Bowling : Duanne Olivier 15 – 4 – 39 – 2, Lizaad Williams 12 – 2 – 51 – 0 (1w),
Simon Harmer 10.2 – 1 – 39 – 3, Keshav Maharaj 24 – 6 – 57 – 2, Wiaan Mulder13 – 7- 25 – 3.

South Africa 2nd innings
Sarel Erwee c Mominul Haque b Khaled Ahmed 41
Dean Elgar b Taijul Islam 26
Keegan Petersen lbw Taijul Islam 14
Temba Bavuma lbw Mehidy Hasan 30
Ryan Rickelton c Mominul Haque b Taijul Islam 12
Kyle Verreynne Not Out 39
Wiaan Mulder b Mehidy Hasan 6
Extras 4b 4lb 0nb 0pen 0w 8
Total (39.5 overs) 176 for 6 decl
Fall of Wickets : 1-60 Elgar, 2-84 Petersen, 3-90 Erwee, 4-119 Rickelton, 5-154 Bavuma, 6-176 Mulder
Did Not Bat : Maharaj, Harmer, Williams, Olivier
Bowling: Ebadot Hossain 5 – 0- 29 – 0, Khaled Ahmed 10 – 0 – 38 – 1, Taijul Islam 15 – 2 – 67 – 3, Mehidy Hasan 9.5 – 3 – 34 – 2

BANGLADESH 2nd innings
Tamim Iqbal c Wiaan Mulder b Simon Harmer 13
Mahmudul Hasan Joy c Wiaan Mulder b Keshav Maharaj 0
Najmul Hossain Shanto lbw Keshav Maharaj 7
Mominul Haque Not Out 5
Extras 2b 0lb 0nb 0pen 0w 2
Total (9.1 overs) 27-3
Fall of Wickets : 1-1 Joy, 2-11 Shanto, 3-27 Iqbal
To Bat : Rahim, Das, Chowdhury, Miraz, Islam, Ahmed, Chowdhury
Bowling : Keshav Maharaj 5 – 1 – 17 – 2, Simon Harmer 4.1 – 1 – 8 – 1.