Rain plays spoilsport

chittagong — Rain washed out the fourth day’s play in the first Test between Bangladesh and South Africa on Friday.

Match officials at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong called off play at 1:25pm (0725 GMT).

South Africa, who made 248 in the first innings, bowled out Bangladesh for 326 and reached 61-0 in their second knock when bad light forced an early stumps with 24.5 overs left to be bowled on the third day.

Openers Stiaan van Zyl and Dean Elgar were on 33 and 28 runs respectively, whittling down Bangladesh’s first innings lead to 17. > Extras > Total (for no loss, 21.1 overs) > Bowling: Rahim 5-0-21-0; Islam 2-0-4-0; Mahmudullah 1-1-0-0; Hasan 5-0-19-0, Shahid 6-1-12-0, Hossain 2.1-1-5-0

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The second and final Test of two-match series will be held in Dhaka from July 30 to August 3.

The visitors were all out for 248 runs in the first innings.

On Thursday, fast bowler Dale Steyn, who took three wickets, finished with 3-78 as he moved closer to becoming only the second South African bowler after former captain Shaun Pollock to take 400 Test wickets.

Off-spinner Simon Harmer also claimed three wickets, including the key scalps of Das and Shakib, to give South Africa a lifeline in what is shaping up to be a close contest.

Bangladesh, who have lost their previous eight Tests against South Africa, most of them by an innings margin, had made an impressive start to the match by bowling out the Proteas cheaply on the opening day. —