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The Dhaka Test’s third day was called off at 4 p.m. local time, one hour before of the day’s scheduled completion, due to bad light. With South Africa still lacking three wickets, Bangladesh rallied to take an 81-run lead in the match. Mehidy Hasan Miraz and rookie Jaker Ali both scored half-centuries, which helped the hosts finish the day with 283 for 7.
Rain caused a 78-minute pause earlier, starting at 1.42 p.m. Because of a depression in the Bay of Bengal that is expected to develop into a cyclone on Wednesday, Bangladesh is experiencing unseasonable rain.
With his fourth half-century of the year, Mehidy saved Bangladesh’s blushes from a precarious situation and was their rescuer for the day. Mehidy and Jaker combined 138 runs for the seventh wicket when they were 112 for 6. In their last five Test matches, this is Bangladesh’s third century stand from the seventh wicket.
Mehidy batted with enough assurance to transfer some of that confidence to Jaker, who had only managed two runs in the first innings, after hitting nine fours and a six in his 171-ball stay on the third day. However, Bangladesh made a terrible start to the day, losing three wickets in the opening half of play and needing to rescue a Test match.
By the fourth over of the day, Kagiso Rabada had dismissed Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Bangladesh’s overnight batsmen. After reaching 40, Mahmudul edged a wide one, making it simple for first slip to snag it. Mushfiqur lost two stumps on the opening day, but this time it was the middle pole that fell off when Rabada ripped away his middle stump later in the over with a ball reminiscent of the one he used to dismiss the same hitter in the first innings.
Shortly after, Bangladesh fell to 112 for 6 and faced the threat of an innings loss on the third day when Litton Das was caught behind off Keshav Maharaj. After that, Mehidy and Jaker took over, overcoming a difficult opening session to enable Bangladesh surpass South Africa’s 202-run lead in the first innings.
Jaker, who was Mehidy’s backup, hit the ball well through the covers. Additionally, he hit two fours through fine leg, one of which helped him to a half-century. Jaker also hit Rabada hard with a self-assured draw shot. Additionally, he hit Rabada for three fours—once with a pull and twice through the off side.
In contrast, Mehidy was most effective against Maharaj, hitting him for four boundaries through the covers, generally along the ground but occasionally lofted ones as well. At lunch, Bangladesh came within one run of South Africa’s lead, demonstrating his ability to manage spin in general.
Play halted for 78 minutes due to rain an hour into the second session. Jaker achieved his first Test fifty before the rain stopped. He was beaten when attempting to spin the ball on the leg side, and he was lbw to Maharaj. Replays demonstrated that the umpire made the right call even though the visitors made a casual appeal. Jaker’s stay of 111 balls included seven fours.