Persistent rain forced the umpires to call off play on day 2 of the second and final Test against South Africa at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka.
The umpires have made a quick call considering that the outfield won’t get ready in time even if the rain stops.
This rain is a result of a deep depression over northeast Bay of Bengal that intensified into a cyclone, Komen. The rain stopped but only momentarily. It backed once again and the first session has been washed out completely.
Photo-Mainoor Islam Manik
The home side made 246 losing 8 wickets in 88 overs on the Day 1.
On a rather slow and low track, Test captain Mushfiqur Rahim won the toss and decided to take first strike. However, speedster Dale Steyn, who was just a wicket shy from reaching the 400-club, drew the first blood when he dismissed opener Tamim Iqbal (six) in just the fifth over of the day.
The 32-year old fast bowler became only the second South African cricketer, and 13th overall, to pick up 400 wickets after all-rounder and former captain Shaun Pollock.
Opener Imrul Kayes and top-order batsman Mominul Haque then added 69 runs for the second wicket to bring Bangladesh back into the tie.
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However, the situation changed drastically for the home side after lunch as off-spinner JP Duminy, who did not bowl a single over in the first Test, bagged the scalps of both Imrul and Mominul.
Imrul and Mominul would be disappointed getting out after registering impressive starts. While Imrul scored 30 from 93 balls, Mominul added 40 runs to the Tigers’ first-innings tally from 87 deliveries.
Mushfiq and Mahmudullah then began the recovery act and were successful in guiding the ship through troubled waters, adding 94 runs for the fourth wicket. However,
just when it appeared that the Tigers were heading towards a big score, the Proteas struck back.
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The home side went on to lose five wickets for the addition of 92 runs in the final session of the day with Mahmudullah (35 off 91 balls) departing first.
Skipper Mushfiq (65 off 125 balls) remained steady at the other end and smashed his 15th fifty, and first after 10 innings. The 26-year old however, can consider himself unlucky after he was given out caught behind off part-timer Dean Elgar. Shakib al Hasan was also among the culprits after being dismissed for 35.
Liton Kumar Das (three) and Mohammad Shahid (one) departed late in the day to enable the visitors to the driving seat at stumps on the opening day.
Duminy (3/27) and Steyn (3/30) were the wreckers in chief for the tourists.
Bangladesh Team
Tamim Iqbal, Imrul Kayes, Mominul Haque, Mahmudullah, Mushfiqur Rahim*†, Shakib Al Hasan, Nasir Hossain, Liton Das, Mohammad Shahid, Mustafizur Rahman, Jubair Hossain
South Africa Team
D Elgar, S van Zyl, F du Plessis, HM Amla*, T Bavuma, JP Duminy, DJ Vilas†, VD Philander, DW Steyn, SR Harmer, M Morkel
Source: Dhaka Tribune
