The South African spin pair of Keshav Maharaj and Simon Harmer bowled out Bangladesh in just an hour on Monday to seal the Test match as well as the series by a 2-0 margin.
Bangladesh went into Day 4 in Gqeberha staring defeat in the face. They were 27/3 in their second innings, requiring another 385 to win, but with the knowledge of their top three batters being already back in the pavilion watching proceedings. Captain Mominul Haque was unbeaten on five at the start of play.
Within minutes of the restart on Monday, Bangladesh again were in deep trouble. Only five runs had been added to the overnight score when Mominul was caught by Ryan Rickleton off Maharaj without adding to his individual total.
Then Mushfiqur Rahim, who had walked out with Mominul, was caught by South African captain Dean Elgar, also off Maharaj. Then it was the turn of Harmer to get in on the act. He had Yasir Ali caught for a four-ball duck.
Liton Das had been the one Bangladesh batter to play with any fluency. However, Maharaj had him stumped for 27.
The end was nigh by this time. What had seemed inevitable from the first ball of the morning soon came to pass. Maharaj had Mehidy Hasan Miraz caught behind, and Hamer had Taijul Islam leg before. Fittingly, Maharaj wrapped up proceedings when he had Khaled Ahmed leg before.
Bangladesh had been bowled out for just 80 in just an hour on Monday. Maharaj took 7-40 and Harmer 3-34. South Africa had won by 322 runs with more than five sessions of the match to spare.
As a footnote, South Africa confirmed two positive Covid-19 cases before the start of play on Monday. Sarel Erwee and Wiaan Mulder both felt unwell overnight, and tested positive in the morning. Khaya Zondo and Glenton Stuurman became the first Covid-19 substitutes in the history of Test cricket.
Brief scores:
South Africa 453 (Keshav Maharaj 84; Taijul Islam 6-135) and 176/6 decl. (Sarel Erwee 41; Taijul Islam 3-67) beat Bangladesh 217 (Mushfiqur Rahim 51; Wiaan Mulder 3-25) and 80 (Liton Das 27; Keshav Maharaj 7-40) by 332 runs. Player of the Match: Keshav Maharaj.
South Africa won the series 2-0. Player of the Series: Keshav Maharaj.