Three clear segments

The second Test between Zimbabwe and Bangladesh at Bulawayo could well be over and done with after only three hours' play on the third day, the first two having been washed out. Heroic work by the ground staff enabled play finally to start an hour before lunch, but then a heavy and prolonged afternoon downpour undid all their good work, perhaps permanently.

The play that did take place came in several clear segments. Zimbabwe were either taking clusters of wickets or none at all, while Bangladesh were either scoring runs freely or not at all. Phase one had few runs or wickets; the second chapter belonged to the free-scoring Bangladeshi batsmen; while the third and final phase of the day belonged to Zimbabwe.

The pre-lunch hour involved few runs and no wickets, but it was absorbing cricket as Zimbabwe's seamers, Heath Streak and Douglas Hondo, took advantage of the conditions and made the Bangladeshi openers fight for their lives. This they did with great determination, although the first run off the bat did not come for 37 minutes, and in the ninth over.

The tide began to turn just before lunch, when a couple of overs by Blessing Mahwire and Sean Ervine offered some easy runs and several no-balls. For half an hour afterwards, the batsmen enjoyed themselves and appeared to be reaping the rewards of their hard work in sowing the seed early on.

But again, in a matter of minutes the game underwent a complete metamorphosis. Ervine pulled himself together, bowled with more accuracy and quickly broke the opening partnership at 64. The next, and final, 90 minutes went all Zimbabwe's way as they mowed down five wickets and the batsmen retreated into their shells, managing only 24 more runs.

Streak's decision to field certainly gave his team the best chance of victory in what had become a three-day match. He and his support bowlers, aided by fine catching, gave his team a strong advantage, only to be thwarted by typical February weather. Barring remarkable happenings, Bangladesh will secure the second draw of their brief career as a Test-playing nation - thanks to the weather ... again.