South Africa 54-2 at stumps

Score: South Africa (496-3 dec) and 54-2 (in 15.5 overs)

Bangladesh: 320 all out 

Bad light stops play with South Africa on 54-2, a lead of 230 runs. Hashim Amla is on 17 and Temba Bavuma on 3 when the players walk off. And with the dark cloud hovering over the ground the umpires call it a day a few minutes later. The play will resume on the fourth day tomorrow at 2.00pm (Bangladesh Time). 

Bangladesh strike twice in quick succession as South Africa are reduced to 38-2 in their second innings. Right-arm pace bowler Shaiful Islam removed left-handed opener Dean Elgar for 18. He trapped the experienced batsman in front of the wicket. The batsman reviewed the decision but the verdict went against him. It reduced the home team to 30-1. Eight runs later, left-arm pace bowler Mustafizur Rahman wins an edge from Markram, the youhg right-hander who paid the penalty for chasing a delivery outside the off-stump. 

AK Markram c †Liton Das b Mustafizur Rahman 15 (26b 2x4 0x6) SR: 57.69

D Elgar lbw b Shafiul Islam 18 (25b 2x4 0x6) SR: 72.00

They were never going to last long. Shafiul Islam and Mustafizur Rahman were not expected to hold the vigil much longer and the former could negotiate just 13 balls before edging to first slip.

Bangladesh wrap up their innings for 320, a deficit of 176 runs going into the second innings, which should start shortly.

Shafiul Islam c Amla b Maharaj 2 (13b 0x4 0x6) SR: 15.38

Two balls after tea and things go from bad to worse for Bangladesh as Mehedi Hasan departs. Rabada bowls this one with a bit more bounce and it takes the glove on way to gully.

Mehedi Hasan c Elgar b Rabada 8 (16b 0x4 0x6) SR: 50.00

Score at Tea: (after 86 overs) Bangladesh 308/8 (South Africa 496-3 dec)

Mehedi Hasan 8, Shafiul Islam 0

Bangladesh head for the tea break at 308-8. It is disappointing in the context that Bangladesh were confidently moving with Mahmudullah Riyad and Sabbir Rahman playing very well. They put on 67 runs for the sixth wicket. But once Sabbir departed the innings fell apart.

Taskin Ahmed is brilliantly run out by Bavuma.

Taskin Ahmed run out 1 (2b 0x4 0x6) SR: 50.00

Mahmudullah becomes the first victim of the second new ball. The right-hander is clean bowled by Morme Morkel, who took the new ball in 83.4 overs. 

Mahmudullah b Morkel 66 (124b 11x4 1x6) SR: 53.22

Bangladesh suffer Sabbir blow as the right-hander played on a rising delivery from Duanne Olivier. He was playing so well along with Mahmudullah Riyad. His dismissal once again reflected a commen trend in the Bangladesh innings so far-- a fall of wicket at a time when it looked like a big partnership was developing. The Tigers however crossed the follow-on mark immediately after his dismissal as they reached 304-6 in 83 overs. Sabbir put on 67 runs for the sixth wicket with Mahmudullah. It is for the first time Bangladesh put on 50 plus stand for the third, fourth, fifth and sixth wicket.

Sabbir Rahman b Morkel 31 (46b 4x4 1x6) SR: 67.39

Mahmudullah Riyad completes his first fifty against South Africa as Bangladesh comfidfently move on to avoid the follow-on mark. The Tigers are 275-5, 22 runs arear of making South Africa bat again with Sabbir Raham playing confidently at the other end. 

Mahmudullah's 14 Test fifty contained 10 boundaries. He guided a Rabada leg-side delivery down the fine-leg boundary to reach 52 and then clebrated it with another four down to the backward point boundary. The pair has so far put on 48 runs for the fifth wicket after the departure of Mominul Haque.

Mominul departs for 77 when the left-hander is caught by Markram at short leg off left-arm spinner Mahraj in the fourth over after lunch. The left-hander was on the backfoot when he played softly but Markram took a magnificent catch inches off the ground to end yet another developing partnership.

Mominul Haque c Markram b Maharaj 77 (150b 12x4 0x6) SR: 51.33

Bangladesh are 218-4 at lunch on the third day of the first Test against South Africa. Fortunately, Bangladesh have not lost a wicket at the close of a session despite the fact that both Mominul Haque and Mahmudhllaha showed that sign of nervous breakdown in the last few overs before lunch. It is also a good session for Bangladesh in which they lost a wicket and socred 91runs. The Tigers need another 79 runs to avoid follow-on.

Mominul looks solid for his 72 that featured a dozen fours. Mahmudullha also negotiating left-arm spinner Keshav Mahraj well although he survived a sharp caught behind chance on 26.

Mominul completes his fifty with a lofted drive off slow left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj. It was his 11th Test fifty and much-needed for Bangladesh after the departure of Tamim Iqbal. With another partnership developing Bangladesh reached 200-4 in 53.5 overs. We have alother 15 odd minutes before lunch.

After surviving the early morning scare Tamim Iqbal and Mominul Haque look to consolidae before Tamim gets out, caught down the leg side off Andile Phehlukwayo, the maiden wicket for the right-arm pace bowler. It also ended a half-century partnership at a time when Bangladesh looked like recovering well. After scoring 7 runs in the first 13 overs over the day, the pair clobbered 17 runs in the 44th over bowled by Rabada. But it was cruel for Tamim getting out to an innocuous delevery down the leg side, that De Kock grabbed spectacularly.    

Tamim Iqbal c de Kock b Phehlukwayo 41 (67b 6x4 1x6) SR: 61.19

Tamim and Mominul Haque resumes Bangladesh's long chase against South Africa's massive 496-3 declared on the third day of the first Test at Senwes park in Potchesftroom today.

They are in all sort of trouble in the first seven overs with South Africam pace duo of Kagiso Rabada and Morne Morkel spitting venom after Tamim hit the first boundary of the day through square of the wicket.

Tamim survivs a a confident leg before appeal of Morkel. He stayes on the wicket becaue umpires decision was not out. Mominul looks like a fish out of water against Rabada and survive a couple of leg-before decisions including a toe crusher. 

Bangladesh start the day on 127-3 with Tamim on 22 and Mominul batting on 28. Bangladesh lost three wickets in the final session on the second day after South South Africa's surprise declaration after the tea break, leaving Bangladesh to start their chase with make-shift opener Liton Das and Imrul Kayes. Imrul got out for 7 and Liton made 25. Skipper Misufiqur Rahim scored 44.