South Africa push Bangladesh closer to Test defeat in twilight zone

GQEBERHA: South Africa's strategy came together as Bangladesh lost three quick wickets at the end of the third day of the second Test at St George's Park in Port Elizabeth on Sunday (Apr 10).

Spinners Keshav Maharaj and Simon Harmer, sharing the new ball, reduced Bangladesh to 27 for three after setting the tourists an improbable 413 to win.

The collapse came exactly a week after the same two bowlers had Bangladesh reeling at 11 for three at the end of the fourth day in the first Test in Durban, setting up a 220-run win for South Africa.

It was all planned, according to South African opening batsman Sarel Erwee, who explained that the hosts went for their shots before declaring in the second innings in order to pose Bangladesh another trial by spin in twilight conditions.

"We had (wanted) a minimum score of 400 runs lead before we declared and a certain amount of overs to get that lead," said Erwee.

"So it was always in the plan. I suppose that's why you saw some positive shot-making while we were batting."

Erwee said that a declaration with more than two days remaining was in keeping with the policy of captain Dean Elgar and coach Mark Boucher.

"It's a state of mind, our mentality," said Erwee.

"Dean's driving it into us. We want to be positive cricketers, we want to lead from the front. It's a positive decision that he's taken and that we take as a team.

"We've got to follow through with that. That's what we're trying to instil in this Test side and South African cricket, from Dean and coach Boucher."

Erwee said the decision to put spin pressure on Bangladesh was at least partly the result of the experience he and fellow opening batsman Elgar had at the end of the third day in Durban when they had to survive two tricky overs of