SA end day 3 on a high

South Africa trail Bangladesh by 17 runs with 10 wickets remaining when play was called off for day 3 of the 1st Test match due to rain at Chittagong Stadium.

Proteas openers weathered the new ball and all but wiped out the first innings deficit.

Stiaan van Zyl was unbeaten on 33 from 71 balls (four 4s) while his opening partner Dean Elgar was batting on 28 from 56 balls when bad light stopped play with over 24 overs left in the day.

Bangladesh lost the opportunity to build a huge lead after coming out to bat on day 3 on 179 with six wickets in the bag.

The 82-run stand for the sixth wicket between Shakib and Litton was the highlight of the day as far as Bangladesh is concerned, and the pair pushed their team ahead of South Africa.

Litton Das picked up his maiden fifty in Tests while Shakib Al Hasan fell three runs short of his first half-century against South Africa.

With three for 78 in 22.1 overs, Dale Steyn reached 399 wickets in his Test career. Off-spinner Simon Harmer also grabbed three wickets, gave away 105 runs in 35 overs.

With time spent at the crease, both the South African openers became more confident and scored freely.

They brought up their 50-stand by the 16th over, and dealt with the variable bounce of a third-day pitch quite efficiently.

South African openers Dean Elgar and Stiaan van Zyl were watchful to begin with, and looked to score selectively against the new ball.

Earlier, Bangladesh’s first innings ended at 326 when Mustafizur Rahman was dismissed by Steyn for three runs, giving the Proteas pacer his 399th Test wicket in the process.

Taijul Islam was the ninth wicket to fall for Bangladesh when he dabbed at a short, rising delivery from Dale Steyn and offered a catch behind the wicket.

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.

Harmer’s delivery turned and bounced to surprise Bangladeshi wicketkeeper. Litton got an inside edge on to the thigh and the ball popped up for a catch behind the wicket.

Litton faced 102 balls and struck seven beautiful boundaries in his fifty.

Mohammad Shahid came out to bat like a man possessed with the South African slow-bowlers in his crosshair.

He hammered 25 runs from 19 balls with four boundaries and a huge six, and more importantly, had a 34-run partnership with Litton Das to extend Bangladesh’s lead.

The crucial 82-run partnership between Shakib and Litton was broken by Simon Harmer when Bangladesh’s top allrounder top-edged his pull for a comfortable catch to JP Duminy at short mid-wicket.

Shakib notched up his highest score against the Proteas with 47 runs. He played sensibly for 114 balls and smashed four boundaries during his stay at the wicket.

After the loss Mushfiq, Shakib and Litton were careful facing the second new ball in the hands of Dale Steyn and Vernon Philander.

They batted sensibly to give Bangladesh the lead in the first innings. Litton brought up the 50-run partnership with Shakib with an edgy boundary of Steyn.

Mushfiqur Rahim was the first wicket to fall early on day 3 when Dale Steyn picked up his first wicket of the match.

Mushfiq was rapped on the back thigh, Hashim Amla went for a review and the third umpire gave the Bangladesh batsman out.

Mushfiqur Rahim managed to score 28 runs during his stay at the wicket which lasted 61 balls. He struck five boundaries in his knock.

Bangladesh started day 3 of the 1st Test match against South Africa at Chittagong with Shakib and Mushfiq at the crease, trailing the visitors by 69 runs with six wickets in hand.

82-run stand between Shakib Al Hasan and Litton Das gave Tigers the lead on day 3 of the 1st Test against South Africa at Chittagong. Photo: STAR

Bangladesh's batsmen didn't look out of place against perhaps the best bowling attack in the world, but they perished to South Africa's part-timers after settling in.

Fifties from Tamim Iqbal and Mahmudullah lifted Bangladesh on a rain-curtailed day 2, but neither the openers nor the day's highest scorer made it through to stumps as the home side remained 69 runs behind South Africa's 248 with six wickets in hand.

Bangladesh Team

Tamim Iqbal, Imrul Kayes, Mominul Haque, Mahmudullah, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim (Captain), Liton Das (Wicketkeeper), Jubair Hossain, Mohammad Shahid, Taijul Islam and Mustafizur Rahman

South Africa Team

D Elgar, S van Zyl, HM Amla (Captain), F du Plessis, T Bavuma, Q de Kock (Wicketkeeper), JP Duminy, VD Philander, DW Steyn, SR Harmer and M Morkel