Needing 152 for the win and a clean sweep in the series, South Africa started tentatively with both Smith and Gibbs finding the pitch difficult and having to contend with the odd ball staying low.

With everyone expecting an onslaught from Herschelle Gibbs he disappointed. Struggling with his timing he did crack three fierce boundaries before having his off stump uprooted by Baisya for 15 from 13 balls and South Africa losing the first wicket on 33.

The young Tulha Jubair caused some problems to both Smith and Van Jaarsveld with late inswing from the right hander. Numerous appeals for leg before being turned down and both batsmen playing and missing.

Van Jaarsveld taking four boundaries through the off side from Baisya’s sixth over showed that he was taking his chance at a permanent place in the squad with open arms.

Smith eventually had to fall, flicking to square leg, off a deserving Jubair, he was caught for 21 and South Africa 73/2.

Peterson got his second international wicket when he bowled an advancing Mahmud round the outside of the bat for 17 and Bangladesh having just reached the 150 losing the seventh wicket.

As happens on numerous occasions, Mashud involved in a 37 runs partnership, was deceived by a Pollock slower ball to be caught and bowled for 23 with Bangladesh now 150/8.

Tapash Baisya, the most successful Bangladesh batsman on tour thus far, did not last long this game. Trying to loft Pollock over the long off fence he got under it and sent a high catch to mid off.

Martin van Jaarsveld given the ball to bowl his off spin had Tulha Jubair clean bowled with his first and only ball bowled in a One-Day International.

A disappointing finish to the Bangladesh innings, one that promised a lot, but did not materialise. Bashar becoming the first Bangladesh batsman to score a 50 against South Africa and was involved in a record third wicket partnership of 68 with Hossain. This partnership is also the highest for any wicket. Why Bashar was only drafted into this match is unknown.

The partnership between Bashar and Hossain grew to 68 when Pollock trapped Hossain leg before for 23. A good innings off 43 balls, including four boundaries came to an end with Bangladesh 83/3. Two balls later Tushar Imran, without scoring, suffered the same fate at the hands of Pollock, but might be considered slightly unlucky after being hit above the roll on the back leg.

Bashar went to his 50 in 92 minutes and then received a ball from Ntini that got up from back of a length, hitting high on the bat, and looping to the off. Caught for 51 by Rhodes at backward point and Bangladesh losing their fifth wicket for 93.

The 100 came up in the 29th over with Alok Kapali driving an over-pitched ball from Ntini square through the covers for his first boundary. He followed that up with a lofted sweep to mid wicket off Peterson showing that his intention was to attack. He was however undone by Peterson getting one that stayed low and an easy decision for the leg before. A promising innings coming to an end on 20 with Bangladesh 113/6.

Steve Elworthy, getting a lot of away movement through the air and off the pitch, opened the bowling with Makhaya Ntini. Ntini a lot fuller than in the first two internationals was not as effective as Elworthy taking the first two wickets of Javed Omar for three and Rafiqul Islma without scoring to leave Bangladesh on 15/2 after five overs.

One had visions of an early afternoon, but some positive batting from Habibul Bashar and Sanwar Hossain, punishing anything loose and running well between the wickets, soon had the run rate climbing and the bowlers taking a bit of a hammering.

A partnership of 54 in 10 overs was becoming a thorn in the South African flesh with Bashar on 41 and Hossain on 21 when drinks came up at 74/2.

The South African’s have made four changes to the team that played in Benoni. With the likes of Jonty Rhodes, Herschelle Gibbs, Ashwell Prince and Robin Peterson, patrolling the inner ring, possibly makes this strongest fielding team ever to take the field for South Africa.

Bangladesh, after playing an unchanged side in Benoni, have left out batsmen Hannan Sarkar and Al Sahariar as well as left hand-opening bowler Manjural Islam. Anwar Hossain, Rafiqul Islam and Habibul Bashar are the replacements.

Under warm windy conditions, which will cool down later in the evening, Bangladesh won the toss and elected to bat.