Bangladesh batsmen, weather hold up South Africa

Stubborn Bangladesh batting and an approaching storm threatened South Africa's chances of an early win on the third day of the first Test at Springbok Park Friday.

Bangladesh were 67 for three in their second innings when the umpires took the players off the field 26 minutes before the scheduled lunch break because of a rapidly approaching electrical storm. Heavy rain started falling soon afterwards.

The tourists were still 221 short of avoiding an innings defeat but they showed far more resolve than in the first innings when their top order crumbled against the South African pace attack.

Only two wickets fell during the morning after Bangladesh resumed at 20 for one. It took South Africa 50 minutes to make the first breakthrough of the day when Tamim Iqbal flashed at a wide, lifting delivery from Makhaya Ntini and was caught behind for 20.

Junaid Siddique fell for 27 shortly before play was halted when he was forced onto the back foot by Jacques Kallis and was also caught behind.

South Africa were without left-arm spinner Paul Harris, who was flown to Cape Town to see a specialist after suffering a fracture to the base of his left thumb before play Wednesday.

He is expected to be out of action for three to four weeks and will miss the second and final Test against Bangladesh starting in Centurion Wednesday.

He will also miss the inaugural Champions League tournament in India next month but is expected to be fit for the three-match series against Australia which starts in Perth on December 17.

Bangladesh wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim received a reprimand from International Cricket Council match referee Alan Hurst for showing dissent when he was dismissed in the first innings.