A sightscreen issue caused a 35-minute delay to the first Test between South Africa and Bangladesh at Kingsmead, Durban, on March 31.
There have been some bizarre reasons for the play to be stopped during a cricket match, but a game getting delayed due to the sightscreen malfunction might top it all. The first Test between South Africa and Bangladesh hit an unexpected setback even before a ball was bowled as the sightscreens from both ends malfunctioned.
South African openers Dean Elgar and Sarel Erwee waited in the ground initially for the issue to be sorted at Old Fort End. But the black spots from the background on the sightscreen were visible through the material the groundstaff were using.
After that, the players left the ground, and the broadcasters cut the live feed while the issue was being sorted out. The match eventually got underway 35 minutes after the scheduled start, after the groundstaff covered the faulty electronic screen with a white cloth.
Durban is hosting a Test for the first time since February 2019, when Sri Lanka had pulled off a famous one-wicket heist over the hosts. The Proteas have to play with a heavily depleted side for this series as eight of their first choice players are on the Indian Premier League duties. Their bowling attack, especially, looks completely different than usual.
Bangladesh also suffered a couple of blows ahead of the match as Tamim Iqbal and Shoriful Islam showed health concerns. The visitors have never won a Test in South Africa, having lost all six matches.
Elgar, Bavuma fifties put SA in good position
After the play got underway, openers Elgar and Erwee got the team off to a great start as they added 113 runs for the first wicket. The captain, who scored 67, was dismissed by Khaled Ahmed, while Erwee followed soon for 41.
Temba Bavuma steadied the ship after losing three quick wickets. Bavuma added 34 runs with Ryan Rickelton and an unbroken stand of 53 with Kyle Verreynne.
The Proteas finished the day on 233/4, with Bavuma and Kyle Verreynne remaining unbeaten on 53 and 27, respectively. The hosts would be looking to build on it and put up a big first innings score on the second day.
