Proteas' points washed away in drawn series

The gap between No.1 ranked Test side South Africa and the rest of the world is poised to close as a side-effect of the Proteas’ rained-out series against Bangladesh.

The second and final Test in Dhaka resulted in a draw on Monday, when day five was called off before the scheduled start of play due to the state of the waterlogged outfield at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.

It was the fourth consecutive day to be washed out, while the first Test between the teams in Chittagong also ended in a weather-battered draw, meaning the series ends nil-all.

The upshot of the drawn series for South Africa will be the loss of five points on the Test rankings table.

However the Proteas will remain on top with 125 points and maintain healthy lead over second-ranked Australia – currently on 111 points – while Bangladesh will gain six points but stay in ninth spot, 34 points behind eighth-ranked West Indies.

Image Id: ~/media/C1BDF68C6C1D428799FEB133C1D04A4E

Rain severely disrupted the series // Getty Images

The hosts could well feel disappointed at losing the opportunity to claim their maiden Test win over South Africa, after the first Test produced Bangladesh’s highest-ever total against the Proteas.

At Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium they scored 326 in reply to South Africa’s 248, thanks to the efforts of Tamim Iqbal (57), Mohammad Mahmudullah (67), Liton Das (50) and Shakib Al Hasan (47), while the Proteas reached 0-61 in their second knock before rain washed out the entire fourth and fifth days’ play.

In Dhaka, Bangladesh again produced a solid performance for much of day one – courtesy of a half-century from skipper Mushfiqur Rahim – before the hosts lost 4-31 and succumbed to 8-246 at stumps.

In a match lasting just 88.1 overs, the major highlight came courtesy of Dale Steyn who became the 13th bowler and second South African to take 400 Test wickets.

The 32-year-old fast bowler reached the landmark when he removed Bangladesh opener Tamim Iqbal in his third over of the match, with skipper Hashim Amla taking a chest-high catch at first slip.

Steyn finished with 3-30 on day one before the next four days passed without a ball being bowled.

Despite the drawn series, South Africa are assured of keeping their hold on the No.1 spot for some time to come.

Australia could close the gap between the top two teams to 19 points with a 3-2 Ashes series triumph, or lose as many as nine points and drop to 102 should England win the remaining two Tests, sending the Old Enemy into outright second place with 105 points.

The Proteas’ next outing on the Test arena will be in November when they host India in a four-match series, while Bangladesh will host Australia in a two-Test series in October.

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