Although rain interrupted parts of the one-day series and brought an early end to two of the three days in the first Test between Bangladesh and South Africa , it had its first proper say of the tour when the fourth day`s play was washed out without a ball being bowled. The lost day has left a delicately poised match headed for a draw, even if play is possible on the final day. The day 4 of the Test match was scheduled to resume at 9:30am at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium on Friday, but there was no possibly to start the match. It has been raining in the port city since last night. On Thursday, rain also forced to take early stumps in the Day 3 as hosts Bangladesh, for the first time, took lead against South Africa in the traditional version of the cricket. South Africa were 61/0 in 21.1 overs at stumps on Day 3, still trailed by 17 runs with 10 wickets reaming in the second innings. Stiaan van Zyl and Dean Elgar were unbeaten on 33 and 28 respectively. Earlier, Bangladesh were all out for 326 runs in their first innings against the visitors’ 248 and took a 78-run lead. The hosts started the play of third day at 179/4 trailed by 69 runs with 6 wickets in hand with Mushfiqur Rahim and Shakib Al Hasan unbeaten on 16 and 1 respectively. However, Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim was LBW by Dale Steyn early in the morning. He added 28 runs as Bangladesh lost the fifth wicket for 195. From there on, Shakib Al Hasan and Liton Das made an 82-run partnership in the 6th wicket to take lead. Shakib was caught by Duminy off Simon Harmer in the 102th over. The No. 1 all-rounder scored 47 runs with 4 boundaries. Litton Das reached his maiden fifty but failed to add to his score when a Harmer’s sharp off-spin brought his demise against the run of play. The Bangladeshi wicketkeeper got an inside edge on to the thigh and the ball popped up for a catch behind the wicket. Mohammad Shahid added quick 25 runs to stretch the lead. South Africa right-arm offspinner Simon Harmer took 3 wickets for 105 runs while fast bowler Dale Steyn claimed 3 for 78. Besides, Vernon Philander bagged 2 wickets for 40. Earlier in the first day on Tuesday, South Africa were bowled out for 248 after they chose to bat first at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium. Bangladesh left-arm quick Mustafizur Rahman took 4 for 37 on debut and just missed a hat trick to wreck the visitors. Besides, legspinner Jubair Hossain bagged 3 for 53. Another big contributor was fast bowler Mohammad Shahid, who was wicketless but brought pressure by conceding only 34 runs in 17 overs, and notching nine maidens in his fourth Test. Temba Bavuma top-scored for South Africa with 54, the only half-century. Faf du Plessis made 48, and opener Dean Elgar 47. Bangladesh finished the first day on 7/0 and added 172 runs more with loss of 4 wickets in the 65 overs that were bowled in Day 2. Tamim Iqbal scored 57 while Mahmudullah 67. Bangladesh have lost all eight Tests they have played against South Africa, seven of them by an innings. Even a 2-0 series loss here will not dethrone South Africa from the top of the ICC Test rankings. Bangladesh XI: Tamim Iqbal, Imrul Kayes, Mominul Haque, Mahmudullah, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim (capt), Liton Das (wk), Jubair Hossain, Mohammad Shahid, Mustafizur Rahman, Taijul Islam. South Africa XI: Dean Elgar, Stiaan Van Zyl, Hashim Amla (capt), Faf du Plessis, Temba Bavuma, Quinton De Kock (wk), JP Duminy, Vernon Philander, Dale Steyn, Simon Harmer, Morne Morkel.
