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Right then, that is it from a shortened Day 3 of this Test. Bangladesh have shown great determination and are leading by 81 runs which no one would have expected given their showing with the bat in the first innings. They will want to add as much as possible and set up a big target while South Africa will look to wrap things up in the morning session itself. Day 4 promises to be another eventful one and there is a huge chance that we will get a result. As we lost a lot of overs and time again, it will begin early at 3.45 am GMT, but you can join us early for all the build-up. Cheers!
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South Africa, on the other hand, will be really disappointed with their performance. Kagiso Rabada set the tone with a couple of wickets early on while Keshav Maharaj also picked up one. At that point, Bangladesh were still trailing by just under 100 runs and with only 4 wickets in hand. However, after that early burst, the visitors failed to build on that and allowed the hosts to not only get back in the game but also put pressure back on South Africa. They finally got the breakthrough which was provided by Keshav Maharaj who was the only spinner who looked threatening as Dane Piedt was pretty expensive. Now, with the second new ball available, they will surely be looking to take that at the start of Day 4, and get these three wickets quickly as chasing something over 150 on this wicket will not be easy at all.
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Bangladesh were rocked early when they lost both the overnight batters, Mahmudul Hasan Joy and Mushfiqur Rahim in the same over and were starring at the barrel of an innings defeat. However, Mehidy Hasan and Jaker Ali had other ideas and started the fight back. Initially, they looked to survive and ride the storm, but once they started to play their shots, there was no stopping them. They dominated proceedings and not only chipped away into the lead but helped them go past it with the biggest partnership of the match. Ali notched up his fifty on debut, but could not stick around for long after that. Mehidy and Nayeem Hasan then got together and frustrated South Africa making sure they did not lose any more wickets, and were also helped by bad light and rain that did not allow the Proteas to attack them with the second new ball.
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Bad news folks! With the lights showing no signs of improving, the umpires have decided to call STUMPS ON DAY 3. It was really a stop-start kind of a day, but a good one for Bangladesh as they have put themselves in a position from where they can even think of winning this Test. South Africa, after making early inroads would have thought that they could finish the game early, but some inconsistent bowling along with an incredible fight with the bat from the hosts have kept this match alive.
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UPDATE â 9.57 am GMT â The umpires did go out to take a reading a short while ago, but they went off the field pretty quickly as well. Perhaps, it is still not better than the benchmark that was set on Day 1. Things are looking gloomy here and with every passing minute, the hopes of getting a resumption are getting slimmer and slimmer.
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UPDATE â 9.38Â am GMT â Nothing really to update about. The light still has not improved and the waiting game continues. The official word was that we could play till 11.45 am GMT, but looking at the first two days, it does not look like light will hold up till then. Stay tuned for further updates.
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Aiden Markram needs to make a decision whether to stay on and bowl only spin or take the second new ball and bring Kagiso Rabada into the attack. He is having that discussion with the umpires who still deem it is not safe for a pacer to bowl. Mehidy Hasan and Bangladesh look reluctant to go, but as Markram requests he wants to bowl a pacer, the umpires cannot do anything except STOP PLAY DUE TO BAD LIGHT. This is not the end of Day 3, and we hope that the light gets better so that we can at least get some more action.
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84.6 â Flighted, full and around off, Mehidy Hasan taps it wide of short covers for a quick run.
Batsman_1 : Mehidy Hasan 87(171)
Batsman_2 : Nayeem Hasan 16(28)
Bowler : Aiden Markram 0/7(3)
Over : 85
Run : 5
Wicket : 0
Score : 283/7
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84.5 â Quicker, short and on leg, turns in, Mehidy Hasan goes down to swipe it but misses and the keeper also fails to stop it. Two byes taken. Bangladesh leads by 80 runs now!
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84.4 â A loopy low full toss, on off, Nayeem Hasan goes down and paddles it through square leg for one.
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84.3 â Flatter, short again, on off, Nayeem Hasan stays back and keeps it out.
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84.2 â Short and on middle, Mehidy Hasan flicks it off the back foot through square leg for a single.
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84.1 â Tossed up, full and on middle, Mehidy Hasan prods forward and blocks it out.
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83.6 â Fires one full, on middle, skids through, Nayeem Hasan fends it off the inside edge to the leg side.
Batsman_1 : Nayeem Hasan 15(26)
Batsman_2 : Mehidy Hasan 85(167)
Bowler : Keshav Maharaj 3/105(37)
Over : 84
Run : 2
Wicket : 0
Score : 278/7
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83.5 â Flighted, full and on off, Nayeem Hasan defends it on the front foot.
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83.4 â Flatter, full and on off, Nayeem Hasan stays back and blocks it out.
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83.3 â A bit of a mix-up but no harm done! Flighted, full and around off, Mehidy Hasan streets it away and calls for the run. There is a bit of a âYes and Noâ between the batters but the go for it. Ryan Rickelton throws it at the keeeprâs end where Kyle Verreynne takes the bails off. However, the replay shows that Nayeem dragged his bat inside albeit in an unusual fashion.
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83.2 â Floated, full and on off, Mehidy Hasan pushes it towards covers.
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83.1 â Tossed up, full and on middle, Nayeem Hasan goes down and paddles it towards fine leg for a single.
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82.6 â Maiden over! Flighted, full and on off, Mehidy Hasan strides out and tucks it short mid-wicket.
Batsman_1 : Mehidy Hasan 84(165)
Batsman_2 : Nayeem Hasan 14(22)
Bowler : Aiden Markram 0/4(2)
Over : 83
Run : 0
Wicket : 0
Score : 276/7