Maharaj, Rabada lead Proteas to big win

The pace of Kagiso Rabada and the spin of Keshav Maharaj sent Bangladesh crashing to a 333-run defeat on the fifth day of the first Test against South Africa at Senwes Park on Monday.

Bangladesh lost seven wickets for 41 runs in less than an hour and a half as they were bowled out for 90 after being set 424 to win.

South African fast bowler Morne Morkel is likely to be out of action for about six weeks because of a side strain, team manager and doctor Mohammed Moosajee said on Monday.

Morkel's injury adds to a long list of injured South African fast bowlers, with Dale Steyn, Vernon Philander and Chris Morris already out of action for extended periods.

Moosajee was speaking shortly before South Africa wrapped up victory in the first Test against Bangladesh, the first of a scheduled ten Tests during the home season.

He said Morkel would have scans on Monday but a preliminary assessment was that he was likely to need six weeks of rest.

Morkel left the field after bowling 5.2 overs on Sunday's fourth day of play, during which he took the first two of three Bangladesh wickets which fell before the close.

Rabada started the destruction by taking the first three wickets of the morning. He finished with 3-33, while left-arm spinner Maharaj took 4-25.

Resuming on 3-49, Bangladesh lost their captain, Mushfiqur Rahim, to the 12th ball of the morning when he pushed at a lifting delivery from Rabada and was well caught above his head by Hashim Amla at first slip for 16.

Mahmudullah was bowled off an inside edge when he played a tentative defensive shot against the fast bowler and Liton Das offered no shot and was leg before wicket to a ball which slanted in to him.

Sabbir Rahman and Taskin Ahmed were both leg before to Maharaj before Shafiul Islam was run out when he and Mehedi Hasan attempted a third run against the strong fielding arm of Rabada after a relay throw from 12th man Wayne Parnell, who chased a ball to long-off.

Hasan and last batsman Mustafizur Rahman shared the best partnership of the morning, putting on 15 before Mustafizur pushed back a return catch to Maharaj.

Bangladesh's rapid demise meant that South Africa were hardly hampered by the absence of Morkel, who suffered a side strain after taking the first two wickets on Sunday.

Team manager Mohammed Moosajee said Morkel required around six weeks rest, ruling him out of the second Test in Bloemfontein, starting on Friday.

South Africa dominated the match after Rahm's surprising decision to send them in to bat on an easy-paced pitch, with Dean Elgar (199), new cap Aiden Markram (97) and Hashim Amla (137) enabling them to score 496 for three declared in the first innings.