2nd ODI: South Africa v Bangladesh at Benoni, 6 Oct 2002 CricInfo Live Report

2nd ODI: South Africa v Bangladesh at Benoni, 6 Oct 2002
Keith Lane

33 Overs,
Pre-game: Toss,
Bangladesh innings: 17 Overs, 50 Overs,
South Africa innings: 16 overs, End of Match,

SOUTH AFRICA WON BY 10 WICKETS
South Africa convincingly beat Bangladesh, after an opening stand of 155 between Herschelle Gibbs and Graeme Smith, by 10 wickets with 29.4 overs still to be bowled.

Gibbs, getting closer to that world record fourth hundred in consecutive innings, had his bid bungled by wide from Alok Kapali that went for four. Instead of needing four, out of six needed for the win, he had to score a boundary to set the new record and also score South Africa’s fastest hundred in a One-Day International.

A powerful drive down the field was cut off by the fielder racing round from wide long on, and the run taken ended the match with Gibbs stranded on 97 and Smith on 48.

What Bangladesh are going to do from here on in is hard to imagine. They have a lot of work to do in the next few months and no miracle cure is expected. They may not be used to the faster pitches in South Africa, but there fielding is way below the standard required by an international team.

GIBBS GOES AFTER THE HUNDRED
Smith and Gibbs started the innings off in an aggressive mood. Gibbs in chase of his fourth, and record, hundred in as many innings.

Dropped at square leg by Tushar Gibbs was ruthless on anything that resembled a bit of width, going to his 50 in 39 balls including 10 boundaries.

At the first drinks break the score was 117/0 with Gibbs on 70 and Smith on 42.

BANGLADESH SETS SOUTH AFRICA A TARGET OF 155
Bangladesh completed their 50 overs with a late flurry from Tapash Baisya and Manjural Islam. Scoring 36 runs off the last five overs they helped the score along to 154/9.

The Bangladesh 100 came up in the 37th over but with Pollock coming back on he had Khaled Mahmud caught behind for 18, including a six over square leg off Benkenstein, and Bangladesh 102/7.

Ntini was also brought back into the attack, at the expense of Ontong, bowling Khaled Mashud, playing down the wrong line, for 15. Bangladesh at 117/8, in danger of being bowled out inside the 50 overs.

Tapash Baisya and Manjural Islam had other ideas, taking the bit between the teeth they put up a partnership of 37 runs for the ninth wicket, the highest of the innings. Manjural hitting down the line scored 13 off 18 balls including two boundaries before being run out with Bangladesh on 154/9.

Baisya’s contribution to the partnership was a couple of boundaries and a big six over mid wicket from the bowling of Donald. He ended on 35 off 46 balls.

Ntini, 3/28, once again was the pick of the South African bowlers, well supported by Pollock, Donald and Klusener.

BANGLADESH IN TROUBLE AT 85/6
At the drinks break, after 33 overs, Bangladesh were in all sorts of problems on 85/6 with captain, Khaled Mashud on eight and Khaled Mahmud on five.

After leaving the ball outside off so well and for so long, Javed Omar lost a bit of patience and trying to force the drive edged Klusener to Boucher for 24 off 65 balls.

A Donald slower ball deceived Sanwar Hossain. Trying to work it to the on side, he played round it and was trapped leg before for eight and Bangladesh going from 46/2 to 46/3 in the space of 5 balls.

Tushar Imran coming to the crease at number five decided that the way to get out of this position was to attack. First he drove Donald over covers and then followed that with a well played lofted drive over mid wicket.

Alok Kapali was never at ease while batting and after a stay of 14 balls gave Klusener his second wicket edging low to Pollock at 3 slip, out without scoring and Bangladesh 57/5.

Tushar continued his attack, this time Klusener feeling his anger with two lofted drives over the off side field. With Dale Benkenstein coming on Tushar chased a very wide ball to be caught behind for 23 off 31 balls and Bangladesh 74/6.

BANGLADESH CRAWLS ALONG TO 35/2
A much more disciplined batting display from the Bangladesh openers, leaving anything that they did not need to play at and looking to score off anything wide. Not the most entertaining cricket, but they kept their wickets intact.

It remained like that until the 12th over. Hannan Sarkar driving at Ntini was caught behind by Boucher for seven. Four balls later Al Sahariar was comprehensively bowled by one angled in and straightening to destroy the stumps after clipping the pads. Out without scoring and Bangladesh 26/2.

By the time the drinks break came up after 17 overs Bangladesh had moved to 35/2 with Javed Omar on 22 and Sanwar Hossain without scoring.

SOUTH AFRICA WIN THE TOSS AND FIELD
Welcome to Willowmoore Park in Benoni for the 2nd of three Standard Bank One-Day Internationals between South Africa and Bangladesh. South Africa leads the series 1:0 and unless Bangladesh have done something to counter the SA pace attack they could find themselves going 2:0 down today.

Benoni might help Bangladesh slightly, being a slower pitch, but their technique will still be tested against the quicker South African bowlers.

We have a cloudless still morning on the East Rand with the weather expected to hold.

South Africa has won the Toss and will field.

Bangladesh have kept the same team, while Martin van Jaarsveld comes in for Jacques Kallis and Mark Boucher back after a rest for Errol Stewart.