Bangladesh are at the knife-edge of an innings defeat in the second and final cricket Test against South Africa, after being reduced to 43-4 following a follow-on at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram today.
The Tigers, as it was adorably called, were wrapped up for 159 in its first innings, replying to South Africa's mammoth 575-6 declared.
Starting the second innings with 416 runs deficit, they continued their dismal batting show to put them on the verge of defeat.
At the second interval of the day, captain Najmul Hossain Shanto was in the crease with 13 as Bangladesh still need 373 runs to make South Africa batting for the second time.
Left-arm spinner Senuran Muthusamy took 2-10 while Keshav Maharaj and Dane Paterson snapped up one wicket apiece to slice through the Bangladesh batting line up.
Paterson struck first to take the wicket of Shadman Islam who chased a delivery outside off to edge behind for 6. He was out for duck in the first innings.
Muthusamy dismissed another opener Mahmudul Hasan Joy for 11, with a turning delivery that took the outside edge of the batter.
Mominul Haque fought valiantly in the first innings to score 82 but coming to bat for the second time in less than 30 minutes, he was removed for duck, trying to dominate Maharaj.
Muthusamy then had Zakir stumped for 7 on the stroke of tea, leaving Bangladesh red-faced.
Earlier, resuming the day at 38-4, Bangladesh were bowled out for 159, largely due to a 103-run partnership of Mominul Haque and Taijul Islam for the ninth wicket.
Kagiso Rabada ripped through the batting line with 5-37, that left Bangladesh 48-8, before Mominul and Taijul helped the side propel past 150.
But more than Rabada, it was the blunder of Bangladeshi batters that sank them. Most of the batters failed to stick to the process, playing their shots half-heartedly to dig their own graveyards.
Rabada struck in just the fourth over of the day as captain Najmul Hossain Shanto poked a length delivery tentatively to Kyle Verriynne for 9.
In the next over, Dane Paterson dismissed Mushfiqur Rahim for duck with a fuller length delivery.
After scoring an epic 191 against Pakistan, Mushfiqur Rahim had gone nine innings without any half-century.
The situation went from bad to worse as Rabada struck twice, getting the better of Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Mahidul Islam in three deliveries.
Miraz pushed a delivery outside off half-heartedly to be out for 1 while Mahidul on debut was out for duck, after offering no shot against a delivery that nipped back sharply.
Mominul and Taijul resisted that only delayed the inevitable.
Once Senuran Muthusamy dismissed Mominul for 82 by denying him a century, Bangladesh's resistance came to an end.
Keshav Maharaj then removed Taijul for 30 to wrap up Bangladesh's innings.
MB