Sports Reporter :
Bangladesh took 78 runs lead when they made a healthy 326 runs in their first innings against South Africa on the third day of the first Test at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong on Thursday. Bangladesh have now 17 runs lead against their African counterpart who made 61 for the loss of none in the second innings before the third day play was stopped due to bad light.
Earlier, South Africa were all out for 248 in the first innings on the first day (Tuesday).
Bangladesh resumed their first innings with the overnight score of 179 for the loss of four wickets.
Mushfiqur Rahim and Shakib Al Hasan resumed their first innings with the overnight score of 16 and one run respectively.
But Mushfiqur Rahim failed to prolong his innings as he was trapped leg before wicket by Dale Steyn after adding 12 more runs to his account when Bangladesh’s score was 195 for the loss of five wickets.
After dismissal of Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan and Liton Das contributed together 82 runs in
the sixth wicket stand before Shakib Al Hasan was caught at the mid-wicket by JP Duminy off Simon Harper when the hosts’ total was 277 for the loss of six wickets.
Shakib Al Hasan hit a polished 47 from 114 balls featuring four fours. Liton Das was the day’s most successful batsman. Liton notched up a painstaking 50 off 102 balls with seven strokes beyond the fence. It was Liton’s maiden Test half century. After departure of Shakib Al Hasan, Liton Das and Mohammad Shahid added 34 runs for the seventh wicket partnership before Mohammad Shahid was caught at the mid-wicket by Stiaan van Zyl off Vernon Philander when Bangladesh’s score was 311 for the loss of seven wickets.
Shahid hit 25 from 19 balls including four fours and a sixer. After dismissal of Shahid, Liton Das was caught behind by wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock off Simon Harmer when Bangladesh’s total was 319 for the loss of eight wickets.
Then Taijul Islam (9) was caught by Dean Elgar off Dale Steyn when the hosts’ score was 325 for the loss of nine wickets. Mustafizur Rahman’s (3) innings was short-lived as he was caught by JP Duminy off Dale Steyn when Bangladesh’s first innings came to an end.
Dale Steyn was the day’s most successful bowler. He grabbed three wickets at the cost of 78 runs.
Simon Harmer bagged two wickets on the third day instead of 46 runs. Besides, Vernon Philander got one wicket on the third day for 18 runs. Later, opener Stiaan van Zyl was at the crease on 33 and Dean Elgar, the other opener was at the crease on 28 before the third day play was stopped due shortage of light.
