South Africa crush Bangladesh

[Abdullah_Ibn_Hussain]

South Africa crush Bangladesh in Potchefstroom
Keith Lane - 27 October 2002

South Africa destroyed Bangladesh on the third and last day of the second Castle/MTN Test in Potchefstroom. Winning by an innings and 160 runs, they also took the series two nil.

Bowling Bangladesh out for 107 in 30.3 overs on a pitch described as "flatter than the highway running to Johannesburg" is a feather in the cap of the bowlers, especially Makhaya Ntini who captured three early wickets, and Jacques Kallis who wrapped up the tail, taking the last five wickets in 12 balls.

Not much can be said for the Bangladesh batting. Throughout the series and the tour, they showed an inability to play anything that was quick and short of a length. To compete at this level they are going to have to do something about their back foot play.

Resuming their first innings on 414/2 this morning, South Africa attacked the bowling from the first over and it was apparent that a declaration was imminent.

Gary Kirsten added six runs before falling on 160. Ashwell Prince got a beauty from Talha Jubair to be caught without scoring and Martin van Jaarsveld walked in front of a delivery for 11.

Jacques Kallis, made man of the match and the series, ended on 139 with Mark Boucher on 14, and South Africa had reached 482/5 when the declaration came. A lead of 267 was always going to make it difficult for Bangladesh to make South Africa bat again.

Bangladesh will take some good home with them. Alok Kapali, who batted too low down the order, can develop both as a batsman and a bowler, while Talha Jubair is a definite star of the future.

South Africa will be more than happy with the return of form of Kirsten. Going into the coming series and the World Cup his form and experience will contribute to future results. The form of Herschelle Gibbs, Kallis and Ntini was also encouraging.

With a far bigger test against Sri Lanka looming, the South Africans will know that there is still a lot of hard work ahead, especially in the bowling and fielding departments.