Rain halts play with Bangladesh 65 runs ahead

Bangladesh had reached 267 for seven wickets in 80 overs – an overall lead of 65 – midway through the afternoon session when rain stopped play on the third day of the first test against South Africa at Mirpur on Wednesday.

Rain began falling at a tantalising moment in the match. Keshav Maharaj had just broken a wonderful seventh-wicket partnership of 138 in 245 balls between Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Jaker Ali and the second new ball had just become available for the tourists.

Maharaj, who bowled superbly in the afternoon, troubling both batters, finally made the breakthrough when he trapped Ali right in front playing back to a slightly quicker, fuller ball. In the same over, the 76th, it seemed that he had trapped new batter Nayeem Hasan leg before as he went low to sweep, the ball actually hitting his shoulder. The umpire agreed with the appeal but video footage showed the ball just clearing the stumps.

Bangladesh began the session on 201 for six, just one run shy of making South Africa bat again with Miraz on 55 – his ninth test half-century – and Ali on 30. While Maharaj caused plenty of problems for the batters, offspinner Dane Piedt lacked consistency and he was a constant conduit for runs for the Bangladeshis, ultimately going for 95 runs in his 19 overs.

Ali, on debut, went to his half-century with a glance for four off a wayward Piedt delivery, his runs coming in 102 balls and including seven fours. He had provided invaluable support for his senior partner, much like Wiaan Mulder had done in his century partnership with Kyle Verreynne in South Africa’s first innings.

When the rain came, Miraz had reached 77 in 155 balls, including eight fours and a six, while his partner Nayeem Hasan was on 12. So far Maharaj has taken 3/98 in a mammoth 35 overs with he and Piedt the only bowlers used so far in the afternoon session.

BANGLADESH: Shadman Islam, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Najmul Hossain Shanto (capt), Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Litton Das (wk), Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Jaker Ali, Nayeem Hasan, Taijul Islam, Hasan Mahmud

SOUTH AFRICA: Aiden Markram (capt), Tony de Zorzi, Tristan Stubbs, David Bedingham, Ryan Rickelton, Matthew Breetzke, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Wiaan Mulder, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Dane Piedt