Rain hits second Test

Seasonal rain forced play to be abandoned on the second day of the second and final Test between Bangladesh and Australia.

Seasonal rain forced play to be abandoned on the second day of the second and final Test between Bangladesh and Australia on Monday, match officials said.

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Australia had reached 151 for two wickets after resuming their first innings when a rainstorm forced umpires to stop play and call for an early lunch break.

After lunch, match referee Jeff Crowe decided to stop proceedings for the day — with nearly four and a half hours of play left — when a couple of pitch inspections revealed a soggy outfield and poor light under overcast skies.

"The pitch is dry, but the outfield is very wet," umpire Aleem Dar said. "We are also not happy with the lights."

Play will start 30 minutes early over the three remaining days to make up for the time lost, he added.

Bangladesh was all out for 197 in its first innings on the opening day Sunday.

Scoreboard:

Bangladesh 1st Innings:

197,

Australia 1st Innings:

(Overnight: 76/1)

Matthew Hayden c sub (Kapali) b Rafique 29, Phil Jaques c Nafees b Rafique 66, Jason Gillespie not out 28, Ricky Ponting not out 19, Extras (lb-6, w-3) 9,

Total:

(for two wickets in 46.4 overs)

151.

Fall of wkts: 1-67, 2-120.

Bowling: Mashrafee Bin Mortaza 12-2-48-0, Shahadat Hossain 13-4-30-0, Mohammad Rafique 13-4-30-2, Abdur Razzak 12.4-3-37-0.

Umpires: Aleem Dar (Pakistan), and Ian Howell (South Africa). TV Umpire: Mahbubur Rahman (Bangladesh). Match Referee: Jeff Crowe (New Zealand).

Toss: Bangladesh. Series: Australia lead 1-0.