Bangladesh won the first ODI by 38 runs,[9] recording their first win against the hosts in an international cricket match in South Africa.[10] South Africa won the second ODI by seven wickets, with Kagiso Rabada taking his second five-wicket haul in an ODI match.[11] Bangladesh won the third ODI by nine wickets, with Taskin Ahmed also taking a five-wicket haul.[12] As a result, Bangladesh won the series 2–1,[13] giving them their first ODI series win in South Africa.[14]
South Africa won the first Test match by 220 runs.[15] In the second innings Keshav Maharaj took seven wickets for 32 runs,[16] with Bangladesh being bowled out for 53 runs, their second-lowest total in Test cricket.[17] All of Bangladesh's wickets were taken by spin bowling, from Maharaj and Simon Harmer.[18] It was the first time that just two bowlers had taken all ten wickets in an innings for South Africa in a Test match.[19] It was also the first time in more than 100 years that zero deliveries were bowled by seam bowlers in a completed innings for South Africa.[20]
On the morning of the fourth day of the second Test match, Sarel Erwee and Wiaan Mulder were replaced by Glenton Stuurman and Khaya Zondo as COVID-19 substitutes.[21] It was the first time that COVID-19 substitutes had been used in Test cricket, with Khaya Zondo making his Test debut in the process.[22] South Africa won the match by 332 runs,[23] winning the series 2–0.[24]
Prior to the tour, Shakib Al Hasan had requested a break from international cricket,[29] with the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) initially agreeing to his request.[30] However, after a meeting with the BCB's President, Nazmul Hassan, Shakib agreed to travel to South Africa.[31] Shakib eventually missed the Test series, after several family members were admitted to hospital due to COVID-19.[32] During the first Test, the BCB confirmed that both Taskin Ahmed and Shoriful Islam would return home to Bangladesh following the conclusion of the match due to injuries.[33]
Mahmudul Hasan Joy scored his first century in Tests,[39] and he also became the first batter for Bangladesh to score a century against South Africa in Tests.[40]
World Test Championship Points: South Africa 12, Bangladesh 0.
Note: during the isolation of South Africa from international cricket between 1970 and 1991, there were seven unofficial tours (italicised below) by various teams, collectively known as the South African rebel tours.
