DHAKA: Rain prevented play starting as scheduled at 9:30am local time on the fourth day of first test between Bangladesh and South Africa in Chittagong on Friday.

Proteas were 61 for 0 & 248 trail Bangladesh 326 (Mahmudullah 67, Liton 50, Steyn 3-78) by 17 runs at stumps on the third day on Thursday.

South Africa tugged. Bangladesh tugged. Rain tugged. Repeat. This leaves the first Test evenly poised. And rain has had the first say on the fourth day, reports espncricinfo.com.

It is pretty heavy, the teams haven't left the hotel yet and, we won't have a prompt start. The rain is intense. Heavy puddles of water on the covers. The forecast for the rest of the day is also bleak, it added.

Regarding the start of fourth day play, BCB officials said that it has been raining since last night and it is intense since morning. Any decision about starting play is yet to be taken. Rain perhaps will decide the fate of the match. 

Patenga meteorological department assistant meteorologist Abdul Hamid said 212 mm rain had been recorded in last 24 hours. More rains are expected to lash the region due to active monsoon winds. 

Bangladesh Team

Tamim Iqbal, Imrul Kayes, Mominul Haque, Mahmudullah, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim*, Litton Das†, Jubair Hossain, Mohammad Shahid, Taijul Islam, Mustafizur Rahman

South Africa Team

D Elgar, S van Zyl, HM Amla*, F du Plessis, T Bavuma, Q de Kock†, JP Duminy, VD Philander, DW Steyn, SR Harmer, M Morkel

BDST: 0952 HRS, JULY 24, 2015
RS