Rain wins as Chittagong Test ends in draw

Just like the fourth day, incessant rain in the port-city washed out the fifth and final day’s play as the first of two Test matches between Bangladesh and South Africa at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium ended in a disappointing draw yesterday. Not a single ball was bowled on the penultimate day and the theme was repeated yesterday with persistent rain playing spoil-sport.

The cricketers of both the sides were hoping for some action at the middle but the match officials declared a draw at the stroke of midday as the inclement weather showed no signs of abating.

This was the first time the Tigers went into the fifth day of a Test against the Proteas while the draw was also the first instance in a Bangladesh-South Africa five-dayer.

Rain had also curtailed the second and third day’s proceedings but in spite of the foul weather, the tie was wide open and could have tilted in favour of either side. Bangladesh had managed a 78-run lead after posting their highest total against South Africa. Earlier, the visitors had capitulated to 248-allout, their second lowest total against the Tigers.

The South Africans though made a strong and positive start to their second innings and only trailed by 17 runs at stumps on day three.

Among the 22 cricketers from both the sides, teenage Bangladesh sensation Mustafizur Rahman enhanced his reputation the most.

Having already proven his worth in the limited-over formats, there was a slight debate as to whether the decision to award his maiden Test cap was a premature one but the Satkhira native cast aside all the doubts with a sizzling performance in the white outfit.

With a mixture of clever cutters, the 19-year old left-arm paceman bagged four wickets in the first innings, including three in four deliveries.

His heroics enabled him to grab the player-of-the-match award and a slice of history was created in the process. Mustafiz became the first and only cricketer in history to bag the man-of-the-match award on both his Test and ODI debut.