SA ease home against Bangladesh

Edgbaston: South Africa v Bangladesh (ICC Trophy 2004)

South Africa returned to winning ways again as they cantered to an easy victory against Bangladesh in Birmingham.

Under grey skies, Bangladeshi captain Rajin Saleh surprised nearly everyone by electing to bat first. It was almost impossible not to notice the South African pace quartet licking their lips after Shaun Pollock and Charl Langeveldt found movement early on.

The first two wickets fell to Charl Langeveldt. A replacement for Andre Nel from the Lancashire Leagues he impressed with a hostile combination of accuracy and movement through the air. Mo Ashraful was caught at slip well by Kallis, and with intelligent use of the in-swinger, Javed Omar was plumb LBW.


What followed was an almost predictable precession of Bangladeshi batsmen who yet again looked all at sea in alien conditions. Makhaya Ntini was again impressive, matching Langeveldt with three wickets to his name.

In a horribly bleak match for Bangladesh, there were two shining stars in Nafis Iqbal and Nazmul Hossain. Without Iqbal's 40, the Bangladeshi card would have been even more grim, and 16 year old Nazmul Hossain managed to find pace and movement, beating the bat of Herschelle Gibbs on numerous occasions.

With only Iqbal and Mashud passing double figures, Bangladesh were bowled out for a paltry 93 as Nicky Boje and Ntini set to work on the lower order.

South Africa predictably got their 94 to win at a canter, using up only 18 overs with Kallis and Smith both striking elegant 40's. However the management will certainly be worried about the indifferent form of Herschelle Gibbs. The normally elegant opening batsman has looked horribly out of sorts recently and today he played inside a Tapash Baisya delivery to be bowled for only four.

South Africa have ended their 10 match losing streak, but will face an altogether different test against the West Indies later in the week, while Bangladesh may well give themselves a better chance by losing the toss.

Bangladesh 93
Nafis Iqbal 40, CK langeveldt 3-17, Ntini 3-19
South Africa 94-1
Smith 42*, Kallis 40*

MOM : Charl Langeveldt

Posted by RichardHi