Bangladesh fight to avoid follow-on as Mushfiq, Yasir depart

Bangladesh's hope of avoiding follow on is hanging on by a thread after losing Mushfiqur Rahim and Yasir Ali in the morning session of Day 3 and reaching 210-7 at Lunch at the St. George’s Park in Port Elizabeth on Sunday.

Yasir was the first to go, departing for 48 while Mushfiq gifted his wicket in the second last over of the session while attempting a reverse sweep to lose his wicket for 51.

Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Taijul Islam are batting on nine and 0 respectively as Bangladesh are still 44 runs away from avoiding follow on.

Keshav Maharaj and Simon Harmer took one wicket each in the session.

Bangladesh resumed the day’s play on 139-5 with Mushfiq and Yasir unbeaten on 30 and eight respectively.

Bangladesh were still trailing South Africa by 314 and needed another 115 runs to avoid follow on.

The match started 20 minutes later due to rain. When play started, Bangladesh started showing signs of a fight back from the very first over as Yasir struck a hat-trick of boundaries off Lizaad WIlliams to start the day.

Mushfiq and Yasir continued showing measured aggression by hitting boundaries when the opportunity presented itself.

Yasir ended up giving a return catch to Maharaja to fall two runs short of what would’ve been his second Test fifty.

Yasir had survived a review taken by South Africa for leg-before wicket in the same over, but in the end paid the price for not playing with a straight bat on a pitch that is offering considerable turn for left-arm spinner Maharaj.

Mushfiq kept battling with Miraz at the other end and reached his 25th Test fifty.

But just when it looked like Bangladesh would end the session without any further damage, Mushfiq attempted to play a reverse sweep off Harmer in the same over he completed his half century. The veteran batsman missed the ball completely as it kept a tad low and hit the off stump.