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Batting brings hope amid rain

NA1MUL KARIM from Chittagong
Prior to the start of the Test in Chittagong, Bangladesh coach Chandika Hathurusingha had publicly stated that the main challenge for the hosts in this series would be South Africa's pacers and that the result of the battle between them and his batsmen could play a big role in deciding the outcome of the game.
Going by that logic, the Bangladesh camp must be extremely relieved, for their cautious approach yesterday helped them stand firm against South Africa's dangerous pace attack, which, as it so often has been in the past, was on the money for most of the day.
What Bangladesh's batsmen will however be disappointed about will be the way they lost their wickets against some of the part-time bowlers. While there was plenty of determination against the pace-trio of Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel and Vernon Philander -- all of who are ranked amongst the top ten Test bowlers in the world - their
concentration levels seemed to slump a bit once the non-regular bowlers arrived. They ended the day on 179 for 4.
Opener Tamim Iqbal, who played a patient 57 off 129 balls, seemed as resolute as ever. While he did drive Steyn for two consecutive boundaries in as early as the seventh over of the innings, he depended mainly on singles since then. He raced to 12 off his first 15 balls. However, in the next 28 balls that he faced, he scored just two runs. The left-hander would nudge deliveries down the leg-side every now and then and patiently look for an opportunity to go to the other end.
On the whole, he took 35 singles and two twos in his knock, apart from the three fours and reached his half-century off 119 deliveries.
Only after the frontline bowlers were given a break did Tamim try to go for a few drives. He cut Simon Harmer and looked to accelerate a bit after Mominul Haque got bowled in the 22nd over. However, that eventually led to his dismissal as he got bowled on his legs while attempting to sweep Dean Eiger in the 54th over. It
was a straight delivery and the left-handerplayed all round it.
Mahmudullah Riyad played with a similar calm and composure, and it therefore wasn't a surprise that the duo managed to post a crucial 89-run stand for the third wicket — a stand which also happens to be Bangladesh's second highest against the Proteas.
Unlike Tamim, Riyad depended more on boundaries. He played out his first eight deliveries for no runs and looked to get a good measurement of the pitch at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium. Once he did that he decided to go against Hanner's turners and hit him for two consecutive fours. While he wasn't entirely in control of both the shots, it seemed to give him a sense of relief, because after that, some of the shots he played were quite delightful.
The highlights of his innings were his cover drives off Philander and Steyn. He stood firm at his crease and punched both the bowlers through covers in the 36th and 37th overs.
He scored his half-century in 109 deliveries and reached it with a styl-
ish leg glance off Steyn which went past Quinton de Kock for a four.
A rare occasion saw him miss a flick from the middle of the wicket and he was eventually trapped in front for 67 by Philander.
Four balls later rain stopped play and at that point of time Bangladesh were poised at 178 for 4 after 66.5 overs. After a brief break, the game did restart but only for the rains to interrupt proceedings yet again, after a ball.
There's no doubt that Bangladesh's batting, for most parts, went as per the team plan. However, the hosts could have been in a much better position had it not been for a few slip ups.
Imrul Kayes, for instance, looked good before getting stumped off a delivery that went down the leg-side. Mominul, oddly enough, looked nervous and attempted an unrequited cut off Harmer to get bowled.
Bangladesh may still be ahead in this encounter, however, with three full days to go -- provided the rains stay away - both sides can still fancy a win.