On Sunday, the Proteas declared their second innings on 176/6 to set Bangladesh 413 runs to claim a win and force a possible draw.

The Tigers were in deep trouble again early in their second innings and at the close of play, were on 27/3 after 9.1 overs.

Once again it was the spin duo of Keshav Maharaj and Simon Harmer who did all the damage with 2/17 and 1/8 respectively.

Batter Sarel Erwee said they knew that it would be tough for Bangladesh to go and bat late on Sunday afternoon.

“Myself and Dean (Elgar) were actually chatting about it before we went out to field. We experienced that in Durban last week for a couple overs and I must say that as an opener it makes your heart flutter a little bit. It's not a nice period - that twilight period.

“We've got two world-class spinners, so it makes it even worse if you've got to go and face them.”

Erwee went on to laud the captain, Elgar, for the positive and aggressive Test cricket the national side has been playing of late.

“It's a state of mind and it's our mentality. Dean is driving it into us that we want to be positive cricketers and we want to lead from the front.

“It is a positive decision that he has taken and that we take as a team. We've got to follow through with that.

“That is what we want to try and instil in this Test side and in South African cricket.”

Play at St George’s Park resumes at 10:00 on Monday morning.

Morgan Piek/OFM Sport