Close South Africa 482 for 5 dec (Kirsten 160, Kallis 139*, Gibbs 114) beat Bangladesh 215 and 107 (Kallis 5-21) by an innings and 160 runs
Scorecard
South Africa series averages
Bangladesh series averages

Those calling for Bangladesh to lose their Test status were given more ammunition when South Africa bowled them out in a little over two hours to win the second Test at Potchefstroom by an innings and 160 runs. The match had barely reached its halfway stage and so one-sided was the contest that few spectators had bothered to turn up to watch the spectacle. Only Man of the Match Jacques Kallis, with a hundred and 5 for 21, seemed to take any real pleasure from the destruction.

Bangladesh's lack of technique against anything short and fast was again cruelly exposed, and increasingly dreadful bounce on a wicket not up to international standard further undermined their fragile confidence. Several of their top-order batsmen made it clear that they had no stomach for the fight – the shot that Habibul Bashar got out to would have embarrassed many club tail-enders. Unsettled first ball by a brute of a delivery from Nantie Hayward, Bashar backed away from anything short thereafter and wafted aimlessly an over later to be caught behind. It was an unedifying spectacle and one hardly likely to install confidence in his team-mates lower down the order.

Hayward, Kallis and Makhaya Ntinihad a field day in inflicting misery on Bangladesh's batsmen. Ntini accounted for the first three wickets, Hayward the next two, including that of Al-Shahriar Rokon who alone looked to have the necessary class to survive at the highest level.

Then Kallis, so ruthless at plundering runs off weaker attacks, showed that he was more than eager to pick up cheap wickets as well. Cracked for 13 runs off his second over, including successive hooked fours by Alok Kapal, he took 5 for 8 in the next 12 balls, inclduing three in four deliveries, to blow away the tail.

Bangladesh had started the day confidently, making the most of the deteriorating wicket to grab three wickets in the first hour. The large cracks which had opened up during the previous 24 hours gave the Bangladesh attack a previously unseen edge and South Africa made it clear from the outset that they were looking for quick runs. It made for an entertaining and balanced first hour.

If South Africa thought they would be able to score runs at will they were brought down to earth by two wickets in an over from Talha Jubair. Gary Kirsten, who had added six to his overnight 154, tried to steer a wide delivery from Talha down to third man but edged to wicketkeeper Khaled Masud (436 for 3). Then four balls later Ashwell Prince, who had failed in East London, nibbled at a ball angled across him and Masud held a tumbling catch to his left (436 for 4).

With the declaration imminent Martin van Jaarsveld had no time to play himself in, making a brisk 11 before falling leg-before to Tapash Baisya as he played across the line to a straight ball (452 for 5).

Jacques Kallis and Mark Boucher then cracked 30 in five overs with tip-and-run tactics before the declaration came. Before the start of play the consensus was that South Africa would bat until lunch, but such was the state of the pitch that their bowlers were straining at the leash to have a go. As it was, Shaun Pollock could have declared yesterday and still have had sufficient runs to have won by an innings.

It is said that Bangladesh, who have now lost their last nine Tests - a record - are on a learning curve. Rarely has that curve been so steep.

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