Unheralded Rafique bowls his way into record books

The home side reached four without loss in reply before heavy rain, which delayed the start for more than two hours, washed out the rest of the day after an early tea. Just over 26 overs were bowled on Friday.

Rafique, whose previous three test wickets have cost 68.33 runs apiece, had Dawson caught behind for 10 off a sharply turning delivery and wrapped up the innings when he bowled Adams with a ball which beat the bat and hit the top of off-stump.

Rafique’s victims on Thursday had included three of the top five batsmen, including Herschelle Gibbs. Only two other Bangladesh bowlers have ever taken six wickets in a Test innings.

South Africa No.8 Robin Peterson, however, ensured a respectable total as he scored 61 on his debut, batting for two-and-three-quarter hours as the lower order dug in on a pitch freshened up by the rain and already offering turn and inconsistent bounce. Peterson finally cut a googly from Mohammad Ashraful hard and low into the covers where Akram Khan held the sharp chance.

South Africa’s last six batsmen scored 192, Shaun Pollock making 41, compared to the 115 contributed by the top five.