Rain holds up South Africa's victory charge

By Ken Borland

BLOEMFONTEIN, South Africa (Reuters) - A thunderstorm and steady rain held up South Africa's charge to victory on the third day of the first test against Bangladesh on Friday.

Bangladesh were on 67 for three in their follow-on innings, trailing by 221 runs, when play was called off for the day at the scheduled tea break. No play was possible from 26 minutes before lunch.

Play on the fourth day on Saturday would start 30 minutes early, at 1000 local time (1100 GMT), officials decided.

Bangladesh, who struggled on Thursday, had produced a much stouter batting effort in the morning before lightning stopped play and forced an early lunch.

Led by Zunaed Siddique, Bangladesh reduced their deficit to 221 runs after being bowled out for 153 in reply to South Africa's first innings of 441 for nine declared.

The 21-year-old left-hander batted for 100 minutes in scoring his 27 and it required the services of fast-medium partnership-breaker Jacques Kallis to remove him, with Siddique edging a cut to wicketkeeper Mark Boucher.

Boucher also took the catch to dismiss opener Tamim Iqbal, who edged an ugly cut shot at Makhaya Ntini. Tamim, who made 20, was at the crease for the first 50 minutes of the third morning and he was replaced at the wicket by captain Mohammad Ashraful, who ended the day on seven not out.

Mehrab Hossain was with Ashraful and had yet to score.