S/Africa thrash Bangladesh

DHAKA: South Africa beat Bang-ladesh by 83 runs after scoring a formidable 294 runs for three in the third match of the limited-overs tri-nation cricket series at Dhaka’s Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.

A four wicket haul by former captain Shaun Pollock, backed by Allan Dawson’s three wickets, helped South Africa post their first win of the tournament. South Africa lost to India by 153 runs on Sunday. Mohammad Ashraful helped Bangladesh narrow their huge deficit by scoring 52 runs off 93 balls with seven boundaries, before South African wicket-keeper Mark Boucher stopped him off a Paul Adams delivery. Eighteen-year-old Ashraful, who became the youngest Test centurion ever by making 114 against Sri Lanka in Colombo in 2001, was adjudged “Man of the Match.”

Ashraful’s second wicket partnership with Habibul Bashar added 58 runs to the Bangladesh total of 211 all out. Batting down the line in eighth place, new Bangladeshi captain Khaled Mahmud put up a good fight, scoring 40 runs off 41 balls with six boundaries, before being caught by Neil McKenzie off a Makhya Ntini ball. It was Bangladesh’s 34th consecutive defeat in One-Day Internationals. Bangladesh crashed to 77 runs in reply to India’s 276 in their opening match of the tournament.

Boeta Dippenaar and Neil McKenzie led the visitors to a commanding total, with undefeated 105 runs in the fourth wicket partnership. Dippenaar made an unbeaten 66 off 80 balls with seven boundaries, while his partner remained not out with 55 off 68 balls hitting two fours and a six. Mohammed Rafique was the most successful among the Bangladeshi bowlers, claiming two wickets for 43 runs in 10 overs. Leg-spinner Alok Kapali was the most economical, conceding only four runs in 10 overs.