South Africa trounce Bangladesh to complete series win

South Africa cantered to a 332 run victory over Bangladesh at St George's Park on Monday, 11 April.

The victory came despite two South Africa players being forced to withdraw from the match.

Sarel Erwee and Wian Mulder returned positive COVID-19 tests on the fourth morning and were pulled from the contest.

South Africa brought in Khaya Zondo and Glenton Stuurman as their first-ever COVID-19 replacements, with the former making his Test debut.

Neither Zondo nor Stuurman would play any significant role as Bangladesh resumed on 27 for 3 only to collapse to 80 all out.

Set 413 to win the Test and level the series, Bangladesh succumbed to Proteas spin duo Simon Harmer and Keshav Maharaj, who split the seven wickets to fall on Monday.

Maharaj ended the innings with figures of 7 for 40 and was named man of the match and series, having also struck a career-best 84 in the first innings.

Bangladesh weren't able to mount a significant challenge in either this match of the series; however they might be forgiven for being thrown for a loop by the surfaces the series has been contested on.

While the pitches favoured spin, they did not play in the same way that turning tracks in the subcontinent do, which made the two experienced Proteas spinners the most valuable players in either side.

The trip isn't all doom and gloom for Bangladesh Mahmudul Hasan Joy notched his maiden Test hundred in the first Test and announced himself as a batter to watch.

Man of the match Maharaj was quick to praise the leadership of Dean Elgar throughout the series and the South African summer.

"Really happy that the team crossed the line," Maharaj said at the post-match presentation.

"The conditions were difficult and did not suit us, but credit to the team for responding well in all disciplines. Dean did a great job in leading the team."

The left-arm spinner says that getting the backing of his skipper after a wicketless first innings in Durban encouraged him to be patient and 'trust in the process'.

"After not picking wickets in the first innings at Durban, Dean and the coach had a chat and said, 'you're doing the right things. Your time will come, there could be a situation in the second innings where you go and take wickets' and I haven't looked back since then."

The next assignment for South Africa's Test side will be a three-match series in England in August and September.