Bangladesh lead by 81 as bad light stops play

Bangladesh vs South Africa First Test Day 3

Stellar Sports Report

Wednesday, October 23, 2024 10:08 am Last updated: Wednesday, October 23, 2024 3:26 pm

A referee enters with an umbrella as players leave the field due to rain. Photo: Firoz Ahmed

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A referee enters with an umbrella as players leave the field due to rain. Photo: Firoz Ahmed

The players returned for a brief period, less than 20 minutes, before light was offered to the batsmen and they decided to leave. Bangladesh reached 283 for seven, with Mehedi Hasan Miraz on 83 – 17 short of what would have been his second century in Test cricket, and Nayeem Hasan on 16.

The Tigers scored 16 runs without a wicket in the brief period after tea. Given the forecasts and the current weather, it doesn’t look like the light will reasonably improve today.

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Rain halted play in Mirpur after Bangladesh took a 65-run lead in their second innings, reaching 267 for seven an hour after lunch on Day 3.

Mehedi Hasan Miraz was batting on 77 while Nayeem Hasan was on 12.

Keshav Maharaj earlier trapped Jaker Ali in front to break a 138-run seventh-wicket partnership that helped Bangladesh avoid defeat in the Mirpur Test against South Africa.

Jaker (58) was becoming increasingly confident and aggressive when Keshav Maharaj pinned him with a frame, replays suggesting the ball would hit leg stump.

However, the skies soon darkened over Mirpur and the rain began, the impact of a low over the bay turning into a deep depression.

Mehedi Hasan Miraz and Jaker Ali revived Bangladesh’s innings. Photo: Firoz Ahmed

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Mehedi Hasan Miraz and Jaker Ali revived Bangladesh’s innings. Photo: Firoz Ahmed

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Mehedi Hasan Miraz (55 not out) and Jaker Ali (30 not out) stitched together an unbroken 89-run seventh-wicket stand as Bangladesh came within a run of avoiding innings defeat in the first Test against South Africa at Mirpur on Tuesday -Friday morning.

At lunch, Bangladesh made 201 for six, with both batsmen mixing caution with aggression. Miraz was aggressive from the start and then Jaker followed suit, but both showed reasonable temperament on a wicket that offered variable bounce.

This was in stark contrast to the start of the day when Bangladesh quickly lost three wickets and faced the prospect of an innings defeat.

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Kagiso Rabada got rid of Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudul Hasan Joy – the two batsmen of the night – in his second over of the morning, the team’s fifth – as Bangladesh faced defeat in the Mirpur Test.

Both Mahmudul (40) and Mushfiur (33) added two runs each before falling to Rabada, the fastest bowler to reach 300 Test wickets.

Mahmudul died while trying to move away from his body, only managing to slip. Mushfiqur, on the other hand, left a huge gap behind his bat and pads, losing his castle in the process to a received delivery.

Liton Das returning to the pavilion. Photo: Firoz Ahmed

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