Only a wicket in morning session places Tigers in further complications

The next session following lunch interval would likely decide whether Bangladesh will have a winning chance in this game as the hosts South Africa have already yielded a handsome lead at lunch on Day 4 of the first Test in Durban today.

The hosts are 105 for one after 33 overs in the second innings as they lead by 174 runs.   

Ebadot Hossain's breakthrough in the 19th over had injected life into his side. The Tigers, playing four specialist bowlers, have bowled well overall today despite missing Taskin in action, through a suspected shoulder injury, up until the 32nd over. The Tigers could have had a few dismissals in their favour before that, especially of Dean Elgar, who kept riding on his luck to go past the half-century mark in quick time.  

Ebadot and teammates react during Erwee's dismissal. Photo: AFP

After opener Sarel Erwee fell for a leg-before, Yasir Ali, standing at second slip during Ebadot's bowling, dropped Elgar on 43.

Like the proverbial cat with many lives, Elgar reached his career's 21st fifty somehow, off 73 balls, with a lucky boundary which flew just past the diving gully fielder.   

Dean Elgar raises his bat after fifty. Photo: AFP

Ebadot draws first blood on Day 4

South Africa were in course to consolidate their position against Bangladesh in the first Test at Kingsmead in Durban after the hosts extended their lead to 117 runs but Ebadot Hossain gave the visitors a vital breakthrough early in Day 4's morning session today.

Resuming the penultimate day on 6 for naught, after securing a first innings lead of 69 runs, the Proteas openers Sarel Erwee and skipper Dean Elgar had propelled their scores to 48 for no loss after 18 overs until the lad from Sylhet struck in his fourth over of innings.

Bangladesh began the day's play with a pace-spin combination, with Khaled Ahmed and Mehedi Hasan Miraz –the two most successful bowlers of the first innings-- bowling in tandem. Elgar was lucky to survive, a few times, after being struck on the pads during Miraz's first over of the day. However, despite DRS showing the ball had clipped the off stump after skipper Mominul Haque opted for the review, umpire Marais Erasmus' not out decision prevailed and the Tigers lost a vital review.

And five overs later, the Proteas skipper edged a Khaled delivery which fell wide of the lone slip fielder. Ebadot then replaced Khaled while Miraz kept his fine bowling form going. Elgar kept living dangerously when he offered no shot to a Miraz delivery that struck him marginally outside the off stump. Ebadot, the hero of Mount Maunganui Test, seemed to be bowling with his tail up from the get-go as the Tigers desperately looked to break the opening partnership, which had produced a century stand in the first innings.   

And it did not take long for Ebadot to come up with the goods as he trapped Erwee, out for 8 off 51 balls, in front. Bangladesh still had to opt for the review to get the decision in their favour.  

Meanwhile, pacer Taskin Ahmed is yet to bowl today and the star of the ODI series is likely in doubt as he was having an issue with his shoulder during warm-up before start of day's play.