5th Match: Bangladesh v South Africa at Dhaka, 17 Apr 2003 Wisden CricInfo Live Report

5th Match: Bangladesh v South Africa at Dhaka, 17 Apr 2003
Amit Varma

Pre-game: Toss and Teams,
South Africa innings: 25 overs, End of Innings,
Bangladesh innings: 25 overs, End of Match,

RUDOLPH ANCHORS SOUTH AFRICA TO VICTORY
Bangladesh fought bravely, but were no match for a South African team that is gradually getting its act together. South Africa batted with commitment to put up 261 on a pitch that aided the spinners, and then restricted Bangladesh to just 168 to win by 93 runs.

Jacques Rudolph anchored the innings superbly with a well-paced 81, and late-innings impetus from Shaun Pollock and Neil McKenzie took South Africa past 250. Pollock and Makhaya Ntini, sharing the new ball for the first time in this tournament, then picked up some early wickets, and at 29 for 4 the game was effectively over. Alok Kapali made an elegant, combative 71, but the chase was never on.

South Africa looked a cohesive unit in the field today, playing with the grim professionalism that so epitomised them once upon a Cronje era. New captain Graeme Smith seemed to be learning his lessons as well – he finally allowed Pollock to share the new ball with Ntini, and the game was decided before their first spells were over.

Pollock was his usual accurate and parsimonious self, while Ntini obtained significant inswing and troubled the batsmen with his bounce and pace. The first two overs were maidens – and as the runs began to come, so did the wickets.

Mehrab Hossain (6) was caught behind off Ntini while flashing outside the off stump (16 for 1). Pollock then passed Allan Donald as South Africa's highest ODI wicket-taker, with two consecutive lbw decisions. Habibul Bashar (1) was hit high on the pad, and there appeared to be an inside edge as well (19 for 2). But Mohammad Ashraful (13) was trapped plumb inside his crease by an incoming ball (25 for 3).

Alan Dawson then struck with his first ball, as Akram Khan (3) reached out for a widish one and only managed to edge it through to Mark Boucher (29 for 4). But though the match was effectively over, Bangladesh didn't roll over and die.

Kapali and Khaled Mahmud added 55 in 80 balls, batting with resolve to prevent the kind of collapse that had become so routine in the World Cup. Mahmud (24) was caught behind off a wild slash off Andrew Hall in the 27th over, and Kapali then played a lone act. He played with immaculate technique with some lovely strokes before he slapped Hall's slower ball to Paul Adams at mid-off for 71 (157 for 9).

Earlier, Bangladesh had bowled with zest to make South Africa sweat while they batted. Herschelle Gibbs went early on for a duck, inside-edging Tapash Baisya onto his stumps (5 for 1). Baisya and Manjural Islam bowled with verve and made the batsmen play and miss, but they let the pressure slip with a fair amount of loose balls. While Rudolph looked tentative, Smith was severe on anything short or wide.

They added a solid 101 before Bangladesh broke through; as expected, it was spin which did the job. Sanwar Hossain had Smith stretching out to play him with minimal footwork, and getting another inside edge into the stumps (106 for 2). Smith's 67 was solid and well-constructed, and his dismissal was against the run of play.

At the other end Kapali bowled his legspinwith guile and variation, giving the ball a fair bit of air. But though Kapali picked up the wickets of Boeta Dippenaar and Boucher, Rudolph made sure there was no mid-innings collapse, milking the singles and pacing his innings well. He was finally caught behind off Sanwar for 81 in the 42nd over, trying to turn one down to third man (192 for 5), and it appeared that South Africa might be restricted to less than 250. But Pollock and McKenzie added 69 in the remaining time, with Pollock making 38 not out off 20 balls, with two huge sixes off the hapless Mahmud.

Bangladesh walked out of the tournament with more pride than they had brought into it, having displayed that they still had stomach for a fight. South Africa had a useful practice game, and their real tests still lie ahead.

BANGLADESH IN EARLY TROUBLE
Shaun Pollock and Makhaya Ntini finally shared the new ball, and it did not take them long to put South Africa in charge of the match. Bangladesh, at one point 29 for 4, recovered somewhat to reach 76 for 4 by the 25th over. But the result of the match was never in doubt.

Pollock was his quintessential accurate self first up, pitching every ball on a good length spot in the corridor, and keeping the batsmen guessing. Ntini got significant inswing from the first over onwards, and troubled the batsmen by extracting disconcerting bounce. The first two overs were maidens. Mohammad Ashraful charged Pollock after that to hit him for a straight four, but it was only a brief glimpse of silver before the cloud rushed in.

Mehrab Hossain was the first man out, flashing outside off to Makhaya ntini and being caught behind easily for 6 (16 for 1). Pollock then became the highest wicket-taker in one-day internationals for South Africa, as Habibul Bashar became his 273rd victim. Bashar (1) was adjudged lbw to a ball that hit him high on the pads, and seemed to get an inside edge on its way (19 for 2).

Pollock’s next was lbw as well, but this was a perfectly legitimate decision – Ashraful (13) was well within in his crease when an incoming ball from Pollock struck him on the pads, and was plumb in front (25 for 3).

Alan Dawson then struck with his first ball, as Akram Khan (3) reached out for a widish ball and only managed to edge it through to Mark Boucher (29 for 4). Alok Kapali and Khaled Mahmud then applied themselves and kept their wickets intact, but despite a couple of elegantly struck boundaries by Kapali, the chase was never on.

LATE FLURRY SEES SOUTH AFRICA POST HUGE TOTAL
Bangladesh put in a valiant performance in the field, but South Africa played solidly to score 261 for 5 in their 50 overs. Jacques Rudolph anchored South Africa with a determined innings of 81, and a partnership of 69 off 50 balls between Shaun Pollock and Neil McKenzie gave their innings the late impetus it needed.

Bangladesh struck in the second over of the match, when Herschelle Gibbs, on 0, inside-edged Tapash Baisya onto the stumps (5 for 1). Baisya and Manjural Islam bowled zestily in the first few overs, but too many loose balls after that eased the pressure. Graeme Smith punished anything that was too wide or too short, though Rudolph played and missed a lot.

On this pitch, though, the crucial overs would be the ones bowled by the spinners. Mohammad Rafique began with a maiden over, but the breakthrough came when the spin duo of Sanwar Hossain and Alok Kapali came on to bowl. Sanwar extracted significant turn, and had Smith stretching out to play him with minimal footwork, and inside-edging on to the stumps (106 for 2). Smith’s 67 was solid and well constructed, and his dismissal was against the run of play.

The momentum slowed a bit, with Boeta Dippenaar not quite at ease against the slower bowlers. Rudolph had taken his time getting used to the conditions, but he now took charge of the innings, milking the bowling expertly through the middle overs. He added 37 with Dippenaar (16), 31 with Mark Boucher (12), and 18 with McKenzie before being caught behind for 81, trying to work Sanwar down to third man (192 for 5).

Kapali had struck twice before this. A beautifully flighted delivery induced a caught-and-bowled from Dippenaar (143 for 3); Boucher, sent in to lift the run-rate, slogged him from outside off down the throat of Mehrab Hossain at long-on (174 for 4).

At one point, it seemed that Bangladesh might restrict South Africa to a score of around 240. But some lusty late hitting by McKenzie and Pollock turned things around, especially during a 20-run over by Khaled Mahmud, which featured two towering sixes from Pollock. Bangladesh would have to score 262 for victory, which did not appear to be a realistic prospect.

SOUTH AFRICA MAKE STEADY PROGRESS AGAINST BANGLADESH
Graeme Smith and Jacques Rudolph consolidated after the early loss of Herschelle Gibbs, adding 101 runs to help South Africa to 108 for 2 at the end of 25 overs. Smith’s dismissal for 67 came against the run of play, as South Africa coasted smoothly.

Manjural Islam and Tapash Baisya bowled with verve at the start. Their efforts were rewarded when Gibbs inside-edged Baisya on to his stumps before he had opened his account (5 for 1). Smith and Rudolph played and missed a bit, and the match looked to be interestingly poised.

Baisya and Manjural could not keep the pressure up though, and they served up plenty of loose balls to keep the scoreboard busy. Smith was severe on anything short or wide, while Rudolph took his time in settling down to the conditions, flashing wildly outside the off stump a few times.

Then, it was time for spin. Mohammad Rafique began with a maiden over, but the breakthrough came when the spin duo of Sanwar Hossain and Alok Kapali came on to bowl. Sanwar extracted significant turn, and had Smith stretching out to play him with minimal footwork, and inside-edging on to the stumps (106 for 2).

Boeta Dippenaar was the new man in, but neither he nor Rudolph looked completely at ease against the spinners. A fascinating battle was in prospect.

SOUTH AFRICA OPT TO BAT AGAINST BANGLADESH
South Africa won the toss and opted to bat. The decision was a no-brainer - the pitch was, as in previous matches, devoid of grass and ideal for batting, with some turn expected as the match went on.

South Africa brought in Andrew Hall instead of Charl Willoughby. Graeme Smith indicated that Shaun Pollock would get the new ball when they bowled.

Bangladesh, meanwhile, dropped Javed Omar, Khaled Masud and Tareq Aziz, bringing in Sanwar Hossain, Mohammad Selim and Manjural Islam.

Interest in this match will be high because Bangladesh have managed to pull themselves together in the last two games, and it will be interesting to see if their new-found spunk can be the basis for a resurgence.

Bangladesh pulling off an upset seems a tall order, but their batsmen seem to be getting their act together, and Mohammad Rafique’s accurate left-arm spin could be a handful for South Africa on this pitch.

South Africa are also going through transition, trying to reassert themselves as a world power after the World Cup debacle. Smith’s captaincy has already come under harsh scrutiny, especially how he has handled his bowlers. South Africa are not playing with the intensity which once characterised them, they must regain it as soon as possible. They must not take this game lightly.

Teams

Bangladesh 1 Mehrab Hossain, 2 Mohammad Ashraful, 3 Habibul Bashar, 4 Sanwar Hossain, 5 Alok Kapali, 6 Akram Khan, 7 MD Selim (wk), 8 Khaled Mahmud (capt), 9 Mohammad Rafique, 10 Tapash Baisya, 11 Manjural Islam.

South Africa 1 Herschelle Gibbs, 2 Graeme Smith (capt), 3 Jacques Rudolph, 4 Boeta Dippenaar, 5 Neil McKenzie, 6 Mark Boucher (wk), 7 Shaun Pollock, 8 Andrew Hall 9 Makhaya Ntini, 10 Alan Dawson, 11 Paul Adams.