DHAKA: Bangladesh and South Africa were left frustrated yet again on Sunday after rain prevented any play for the third successive day, leaving the second and final Test headed for a draw with just one day remaining.

Match officials called off play in the afternoon, without the teams taking to the field at Dhaka’s Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium following continuous heavy showers.

Bangladesh reached 246-8 in their first innings on the opening day, before rain prevented a single ball being bowled on the second, third and fourth days.

South African paceman Dale Steyn took 3-30 on the first day, making him just the 13th cricketer in history to claim more than 400 Test wickets.

South Africa’s debutant wicket-keeper Dane Villas expressed frustration with Sunday’s washout, after the first Test in Chittagong ended in a draw when rain stopped play on the last two days.

“We have been preparing ourselves to get on the park. The field has been unbelievable. We were really surprised how well the drainage works here,” he said.

Bangladesh batsman Mohammad Mahmudullah said the team was struggling to stay focused.

“When you take preparation both physically and mentally for playing five days and see three days of washout, it becomes very irritating,” he said.

Published in Dawn, August 3rd, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play