<div style="text-align: justify; "><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">The Day 3 play of the first cricket Test between Bangladesh and South Africa stopped due to rain after Mehidy Hasan Miraz helped the hosts take a 65-run lead at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium today.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Miraz was unbeaten on 77 as Bangladesh reached 267-7. Nayeem Hasan was on 12.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Bangladesh were bowled out for 106 in its first innings and conceded a huge 202-run lead when South Africa replied with 308 before being all out.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Fast bowler Kagiso Rabada (4-35) and left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj (3-98) shared the seven wickets to jolt Bangladesh but Miraz's unwavering resolve helped Bangladesh avoid an innings defeat.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">His stubborn innings also raised hope to set a good target for South Africa.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Miraz and Jaker Ali Anik who made 58 on debut, shared 138-run for the seventh wicket stand to help Bangladesh into a lead by weathering the massive deficit.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Rabada and Maharaj jolted Bangladesh with three quick wickets in just 22 balls in morning session to leave at 112-6 and in danger of an innings defeat.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">But Miraz resisted impeccably, with Jaker's support, to ensure the hosts could at least make South Africa bat for the second time.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Rabada used the early moisture of the pitch expertly after Bangladesh resumed at 101-3. He pegged back the hosts with two wickets in three balls in just the fourth day.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Opener Mahmudul Hasan Joy edged a delivery to first slip after being undone by the extra bounce for 40 off 92.</div><div style="text-align: justify; "><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Mushfiqur Rahim who became the first Bangladesh batter to reach 6000 Test runs on Day 2, paid the price of lack of foot movement as Rabada's fuller-length delivery skidded through to rattle the stump.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Mushfiqur added two runs to his overnight tally to be out on 33.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj who had figures of 2-60 successfully reviewed one to remove Liton Das after he scored 7.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Miraz and Jaker survived a probing spell of Rabada and Maharaj to set them in the crease.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Miraz hit Dane Piedt a six over his head to grow with confidence and then drove Maharaj to deep mid-off for a single to raise his ninth fifty from 94 balls.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;">However, after the lunch session, Maharaj broke through, trapping Jaker leg-before, albeit the batter reviewed the decision in vain. Jaker hit seven fours for his 111 ball-knock.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Miraz and Nayeem looked resolute until the rain stopped the play.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify; ">bnbd24/kh</div>