Habibul Bashar, the Bangladesh captain, top-scored with an undefeated 77 and Indian youngster Shikhar Dhawan supported with 66, as the Vice-Chancellor's XI reached 250 for five, replying to South Africa's first innings total of 395 for six declared on Sunday.

Bashar hit 15 boundaries from 86 balls in two hours and added 95 with retired West Indies wicketkeeper-batsman Ridley Jacobs, who scored 28.

Dhawan had hit 14 fours from 86 balls in 2-1/2 hours to hold the top order batting together, after opening batsmen Tishan Maraj and Ryan Ramdass were dismissed cheaply.

He added 86 for the third wicket with West Indies batsman Marlon Samuels, who scored 36, before Nicky Boje made the breakthrough when he bowled Samuels.

When Dhawan was caught close to the wicket to become the second of three wickets for 51 runs from 11 overs for Charl Langeveldt, and Shirley Clarke was lbw to same bowler to leave the Vice-Chancellor's XI 155 for four, it looked like the visitors might have their way.

Bashar and Jacobs batted through tea to frustrate the South Africans, who were going through final preparations for the third Test, starting at Bridgetown on Thursday.

Earlier, South Africa continued from their overnight total of 349 for three and declared after batting for close to an hour.

They lost three wickets, all to unorthodox left-arm spin bowler Dave Mohammed, who ended with five wickets for 115 runs from 27.1 overs.

Boeta Dippenaar, who was last out, top-scored with 184 that contained 21 fours and two sixes from 278 balls in 6-1/2 hours batting. It helped to earn him the man-of-the-match award.

Mark Boucher also used the relaxed atmosphere to score 63 before being caught in the deep, and Jacques Kallis was stumped for 12.