South Africa offspinner Simon Harmer, playing his first Test since 2015, registered his career-best bowling to reduce Bangladesh to a troublesome 98-4 on day two of the first Test at Kingsmead Cricket Ground in Durban on Friday.
Varying his pace, Harmer claimed all of the four top order wickets to end the day on 4-42. Opener Mahmudul Hasan Joy survived some tricky moment to remain not out 44. At the end of the day, Bangladesh were trailing by 269 runs after South Africa were dismissed for 367 in its first innings.
While Joy started confidently, his opening partner Shadman Islam looked clueless, particularly against South African spinners-Keshav Maharaj and Harmer, BSS reports. Maharaj didn't have any wicket to his name as of now but he gave the control to play a perfect foil to Harmer.
Harmer however removed Shadman for 9 with a delivery that kept low on the stroke of the lunch. But Bangladesh seemed to have gone in right direction when Joy and Najmul Hossain Shanto dealt with the spinners astutely.
Harmer produced a beauty to take the wicket of Shanto who made 38 and thereby ended the 55-run second wicket partnership. But there was more joy for Harmer and South Africa as the spinner dismissed Bangladesh captain Mominul Haque for duck in his next over.
His next victim was Mushfiqur Rahim, the most experienced batter of the country scored just 7, before edging a Harmer delivery to wicket-keeper. Fast bowler Syed Khaled Ahmed claimed his career-best 4-92 to play a key role in bowling out South Africa who added 134-run to their overnight total.
Offspinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz grabbed 3-94 and another fast bowler Ebadot Hossain took 2-86 to complement Khaled's effort. Temba Bavuma was the top-scorer with 93, in what was his 50th Test and captain Dean Elgar hit 67. Before making impact with bowling, Harmer led the lower order resistance and was not out on 38.
Resuming the day on 233-4, South Africa were quickly reduced to 245-6 when Khaled removed overnight unbeaten batter Kyle Verreynne (28) and Wiaan Mulder for duck in consecutive deliveries.
Bavuma and Keshav Maharaj then resisted and added 53-run for the seventh wicket stand. Mehidy Hasan Miraz broke the partnership, taking out the prized scalp of Bavuma for 93. He hit a dozen of boundaries in the knock in which he played 190 balls.
Ebadot further derailed the hosts, rattling the stump of Maharaj for 19. But the last two pair of South Africa added 69 runs to frustrate Bangladesh.
Harmer, playing his first Test after seven years was key in those two partnerships. He added 34-run with debutant Lizaad Williams for the ninth wickets before combining for a 35-run with Duanne Olivier for the last wicket partnership.
Both Williams and Olivier scored identical 12 runs. Harmer four fours and one six off Miraz for his 78 ball-38 not out.
