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Spin twins win it for Proteas over Bangladesh in 1st Test

Man of the match Keshav Maharaj

Cricket South Africa


South Africa's two spinners Keshav Maharaj and Simon Harmer wreaked havoc at Kingsmead in Durban on Monday as they bowled in tandem to secure the Proteas a massive 220 run victory over Bangladesh in the first Test.

In pursuit of an unlikely victory target of 274, Bangladesh were bowled out for 53 in just 19 overs - Harmer and Maharaj taking all ten wickets between them..

That in itself is a feat the Proteas have never achieved before - two bowlers taking all ten wickets in an innings - they took 14 wickets between them in the Test match.

The 2nd innings score of 53 by Bangladesh is also the lowest-ever in a Test match at Kingsmead.

The visitors were already in big trouble when they resumed on the final morning on 11 for three, Harmer and Maharaj doing the early damage with the new ball late on day four.

In a crazy 55 minutes on the final day, the visitors capitulated in spectacular fashion to the relentless accuracy, guile and turn from both Maharaj and Harmer.

Man-of-the-match Maharaj took career-best figures of 7/32 in ten deadly overs and Harmer chipped in with 3/21 in 9 overs for a match haul of seven wickets.

It was a remarkable return to Test cricket for the former Warriors player Harmer, whose gap of 55 matches between Tests for his country is also the biggest on record for South Africa.

He will most certainly not be waiting that long to play for his country again and it will be very difficult for the selectors not to play both spinners again in the 2nd and final test against Bangladesh.

That match is on Harmer's former home ground at St Georges Park, from Friday.

The two teams arrive in Nelson Mandela Bay on Tuesday and will have two days of practice before the start of the Test match.