Iqbal (left) ended up scoring 57, while Mahmudullah (right) made 67

Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

Despite Bangladesh batsman Mahmudullah and opener Tamim Iqbal both scoring half-centuries, persistent rain restricted the hosts from making South Africa suffer even more.

Starting out the day on 7/0, Iqbal and Imrul Kayes added 39 runs to their overnight stand before Kayes was stumped by Quinton de Kock off the bowling of Stiaan van Zyl for 26.

Mominul Haque only made six runs before he was clean bowled by Simon Harmer.

However, Iqbal and Mahmudullah stabilised the innings with an 89-run partnership, during which Iqbal brought up his half-century, before he was cleaned up by Dean Elgar.

Iqbal’s excellent knock of 57 came off 129 balls and included three boundaries.

Mahmudullah went on to score 67 off 138 deliveries, which included 10 boundaries, before he was given out lbw off the bowling of Vernon Philander.

However, just a couple of balls later, the heavens parted and the players were ushered off the field.

Play did restart just under an hour later, but Bangladesh only faced one more ball before the rain returned and refused to relent this time around. As a result, the umpires had no choice but to bring play to an end for the day.

Philander, Elgar, Harmer and van Zyl claimed one wicket each.

Bangladesh ended day two on 179/4 and will continue batting tomorrow at 10:00 local time or 04:00 GMT.