CHITTAGONG: South Africa reached 61 without loss on the third day of the first Test after the spirited Bangladesh racked up their highest total against them on Thursday.

Bangladesh took a first innings lead of 78 before they were all out for 326 during the extended second session of the third day’s play at the Chowdhury Zahur Ahmed Stadium in Chittagong.

South Africa, who made 248 in the first innings, batted solidly in their second knock when bad light forced an early closure with 24.5 overs left to be bowled.

Openers Stiaan van Zyl was unbeaten on 33 and Dean Elgar on 28 not out. The tourists still trail by 17 runs.

Fast bowler Dale Steyn 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.

“I think there is still a lot of cricket to be played in this match,” Harmer said. “We have lost lots of time [due] to bad light... I think we need to make sure that we set ourselves a good base tomorrow morning.”

Das made 50 off 102 balls with the help of seven boundaries and tail-ender Mohammad Shahid belted 25 off 19 balls to provide Bangladesh the edge.

Steyn had Bangladesh skipper Mushfiqur Rahim leg-before for 28 in South Africa’s only success of the morning session, but Shakib (47) and Das stood firm to defy the visiting bowlers in a defiant sixth-wicket partnership of 82.

Mushfiqur, who was initially given not out before South Africa successfully reviewed the decision, added 12 runs to his overnight score.

Das drove Steyn to take Bangladesh past South Africa’s first innings total and then hit J.P. Duminy a boundary past cover to help Bangladesh surpass their previous highest score 259 runs against South Africa.

“We get a lot of loose balls in domestic cricket, but it is the opposite in international cricket,” said Das, who was playing only his second Test. “The wicket was slow. So it wasn’t easy to play shots. I had to be careful. There is a different need every day. Today the situation demanded I play in this manner.”

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.

Mohammad Mahmudullah scored 67 and Tamim Iqbal added 57 in the rain-shortened second day to lay a strong foundation for the home side.

Shakib and Das batted resolutely before steering Bangladesh, who have lost all of their previous eight meetings against South Africa, past their opponents’ first-innings total.

Das added 38 quick runs with Shahid for the seventh wicket to boost the lead and was eventually caught by wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock off Harmer.

Steyn then dismissed the last two Bangladesh batsmen to take his Test tally to 399 wickets. Harmer also finished with three wickets.

Scoreboard

SOUTH AFRICA (1st Innings 248 (T. Bavuma 54, F. Du Plessis 48, D. Elgar 47; Mustafizur Rahman 4-37, Jubair Hossain 3-53).

BANGLADESH (1st Innings, overnight 179-4):

Tamim Iqbal b Elgar 57 Imrul Kayes st de Kock b van Zyl 26 Mominul Haque v Harmer 6 M. Mahmudullah lbw b Philander 67 Mushfiqur Rahim lbw b Steyn 28 Shakib Al Hasan c Duminy b Harmer 47 Litton Das c de Kock b Harmer 50 M. Shahid c van Zyl b Philander 25 Taijul Islam c Elgar b Steyn 9 Mustafizur Rahman c Duminy b Steyn 3 Jubair Hossain not out 0

EXTRAS (LB-7, NB-1) 8

TOTAL (for five wkts, 94 overs)252

FALL OF WKTS: 1-46, 2-55, 3-144, 4-178, 5-195, 6-277, 7-311, 8-319, 9-325.

BOWLING: Steyn 22.1-5-78-3; Philander 20-2-40-2 (1nb); Morkel 19-2-52-0; Harmer 35-8-105-3; van Zyl 13-4-23-1; Elgar 3-0-6-1; Duminy 4-0-15-0.

SOUTH AFRICA (2nd Innings):

S. van Zyl not out 33 D. Elgar not out 28

EXTRAS 0

TOTAL (for no wkt, 21.1 overs) 61

BOWLING (to-date): Mustafizur Rahman 5-0-21-0; Taijul Islam 2-0-4-0; Mohammad Mahmudullah 1-1-0-0; Shakib Al Hasan 5-0-19-0; Mohammad Shahid 6-1-12-0; Jubair Hossain 2.1-1-5-0

Published in Dawn, July 24th, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play