Mirpur Test: Rain completes hat-trick of washouts

Sports Correspondent: Fourth day`s play of the 2nd Test match between Bangladesh and South Africa has been called off due to rain for the third consecutive day completing hat-trick of washouts.

The play of Day 4 was scheduled to begin at 9:30am on Sunday at Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium but rain forced umpires to abandon the play.

Earlier, heavy rain, caused by cyclone Komen, forced the umpires to abandon the second and third day`s play of the Mirpur Test.

Bangladesh had ended the first day at 246/8 disappointingly after building a solid foundation with the bat, losing four wickets for 31 runs in the final session as Dale Steyn found substantial reverse swing.

The hosts had squandered a good start that was marred only by Tamim Iqbal`s loose drive to become Steyn`s 400th Test wicket. Bangladesh will be concerned that none of their top or middle-order batsmen was able to convert a start into a century.

South Africa, on the other hand, came into their own as the first day progressed. Hashim Amla made use of his part-time bowlers, all of who impressed and kept the frontline pack fresh for forceful bursts. Dean Elgar, in particular, found sharp turn on a surface that was predicted to become worse as the match went on.

The first Test of the two-match series ended in a draw as rain washed out the 4th and 5th days of the game in Chittagong.

Bangladesh Team: 1 Tamim Iqbal, 2 Imrul Kayes, 3 Mominul Haque, 4 Mushfiqur Rahim (capt), 5 Shakib Al Hasan , 6 Mahmudullah, 7 Liton Das (wk), 8 Nasir Hossain, 9 Jubair Hossain, 10 Mohammad Shahid, 11 Mustafizur Rahman.

South Africa Team: 1 Dean Elgar, 2 Stiaan van Zyl, 3 Faf du Plessis, 4 Hashim Amla (capt), 5 Temba Bavuma, 6 JP Duminy, 7 Dane Vilas (wk), 8 Vernon Philander, 9 Dale Steyn, 10 Morne Morkel, 11 Simon Harmer.

risingbd/Aug 02, 2015/Yasin/Aminul