South Africa clinched their biggest Test win, crushing Bangladesh in under three days to stay in the race for the World Test Championship final. The Proteas’ innings and 273-run victory in the second Test at Chattogram surpassed their previous record—also set against Bangladesh in 2017—by 19 runs.
Bangladesh, starting day three at 38-4, quickly collapsed to 48-8 before Mominul Haque and Taijul Islam’s 103-run stand pushed them to 159. Kagiso Rabada’s powerful 5-37 spell set the tone, and South Africa enforced the follow-on, dismissing Bangladesh for just 143 in 43.4 overs to seal the win.
Left-arm spinners Keshav Maharaj and Senuran Muthusamy claimed 5-59 and 4-45, respectively, securing South Africa’s 2-0 series sweep. This marked the ninth time in 16 Tests that South Africa defeated Bangladesh by an innings margin.
South Africa’s captain, Aiden Markram, expressed immense pride, calling the victory “special” and noting that aiming for the World Test Championship final remains a key motivator. The win elevated South Africa to fourth in the Championship standings, with four home matches against Sri Lanka and Pakistan remaining. Victories in those games would ensure a spot in the June final at Lord’s. Even three wins and a draw—or possibly three wins and a loss—could suffice, depending on outcomes in other series.