Bangladesh had slightly the better of the battle of attrition that developed on the second day of the first Test match between the home side and the Castle Lager Proteas at Chittagong on Wednesday.
At the close of a rain-shortened day on which only 10 overs were possible in the final session Bangladesh had reached 179/4 and were closing in on a first innings lead with their deficit reduced to 69 runs.
As had been the case on the first day there was little or nothing in the pitch for the bowlers who had to rely on their own variations to make any inroads.
Two of the four wickets to fall fell to part-timers in Stiaan van Zyl – with the aid of a smart bit of stumping from Quinton de Kock – and Dean Elgar with Vernon Philander and Simon Harmer the two specialist bowlers to have success.
Philander matched the holding job that Mohammad Shahid had done for Bangladesh on day one by taking 1/22 in 12 overs.
The batting honours for Bangladesh went to Tamim Iqbal (57 off 129 balls, 3 fours) and Mahmudullah (67 off 138 balls, 10 fours). The pair participated in the major partnership of the day of 89 for the third wicket which is the highest partnership of the match to date.
The Proteas’ hopes now rest with the second new ball which becomes due in 13 overs time.