Mirpur Test: Rain delays start of day 4

Sports Correspondent: Morning showers delayed the start of day 4 of the 2nd Test between Bangladesh and South Africa at Mirpur stadium.

 On Saturday the third day`s play was lost as heavy rain, caused by cyclone Komen.

Earlier, heavy rain, caused by cyclone Komen, forced the umpires to abandon the second day of the Mirpur Test at 12.00pm on Friday.
 
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/DHAKA/Aug 2, 2015/Augustin Sujan/Mukul