Rain holds up South Africa's victory charge

BLOEMFONTEIN // A thunderstorm and steady rain held up South Africa's charge to victory on the third day of the first Test against Bangladesh. Bangladesh were on 67 for three in their follow-on innings when play was called off for the day at the scheduled tea break. No play was possible from 26 minutes before lunch and the match will resume half a hour earlier on the fourth day.

Bangladesh had produced a much stouter batting effort in the morning before lightning stopped play and forced an early lunch. Led by Zunaed Siddique (27), Bangladesh reduced their deficit to 221 runs after being bowled out for 153 in reply to South Africa's first innings of 441 for nine declared. The 21-year-old left-hander batted for 100 minutes and it required the services of Jacques Kallis to remove him, with Siddique edging a cut to the wicketkeeper Mark Boucher.

Boucher also took the catch to dismiss the opener Tamim Iqbal (20), who edged an ugly cut shot from a Makhaya Ntini delivery. The captain Mohammad Ashraful (7 not out) and Mehrab Hossain (0 not out) will resume play at the crease. *Reuters