Two more wickets fall as South Africa close in on win

South Africa remain on course for an innings victory over Bangladesh after taking two more wickets in a shortened first session of the third day of the first Test in Bloemfontein.

Following on and resuming on 20 for one – still 268 behind the Proteas’ first-innings total – Tamim Iqbal and Junaid Siddique perished in the 91 minutes’ action before rain forced the players to take an early lunch.

The dismissal of opener Imrul Kayes last night, bowled off an inside edge by Dale Steyn for four, brought Tamim and Junaid together in the middle and with much resting on their shoulders if the Tigers were to forge an unlikely escape.

Tamim was first to go this morning, caught behind by Mark Boucher off the bowling of Makhaya Ntini for 20 to leave Bangladesh 45 for two.

That became 67 for three in the 24th over when Jacques Kallis induced an outside edge from Junaid and he too was snapped up by wicketkeeper Boucher for 27.

Three balls later, a shower brought a premature end to the session with captain Mohammad Ashraful on seven and Mehrab Hossain Jnr yet to score.

The hosts yesterday declared on 441 for nine and then skittled their opponents for just 153.