Monday, November 10, 2008

2nd ODI Bangladesh in South Africa 2008

Hashim Amla scored his maiden one-day international century as South Africa beat Bangladesh by 128 runs to take a 2-0 lead in their three-game series. He shared an opening stand of 136 with Graeme Smith (65) and cracked four sixes in his run-a-ball 140. AB de Villiers hit four maximums in his 54 not out, while Albie Morkel smashed 37 off 13 to set an imposing 358-4. Tamim Iqbal blazed 41 off 22 but the Tigers reply faltered as Johan Botha and Dale Steyn took three wickets each. An asking rate starting at over seven-an-over was always going to be too much for Bangladesh who had not helped themselves with some wayward bowling and poor fielding after asking their hosts to bat first. Amla was dropped by Mashrafe Mortaza on 15 and he took full advantage, playing some elegant strokes early on before extending his arms in the later overs. Smith was also dropped, on 54, but looked in good touch on his return from the tennis elbow injury he suffered while on tour in England in August, stroking six fours and one six to help set the foundation for his side's huge total. Kallis also scored his 49 at a run-a-ball before being cleaned up by Abdur Razzak, while de Villiers and Morkel produced some late fireworks, hitting seven sixes and five fours between them. "It's a sad day for cricket when one team stops chasing when they are three wickets down"
South Africa captain Graeme Smith

Teenager Iqbal hit four boundaries in Johann Louw's first over and two fours and a six off Steyn in the next to get Bangladesh's reply off to a bold start. But, after scoring 41 off 21 deliveries, he top-edged an attempted hook off Steyn to JP Duminy at square leg and the Tigers stuttered. Off-spinner Botha removed Imrul Kayes and Mohammad Ashraful in quick succession to leave Bangladesh 101-3. Junaid Siddique started aggressively, but became tied down and was leg before to Botha for 47 off 80 balls, to leave the visitors 140-5 and only a plucky ninth-wicket partnership between Mortaza and Abdur Razzak gave the score any respectability. But Bangladesh's approach to the game drew criticism from South Africa skipper Smith. He said: "It's a sad day for cricket when one team stops chasing when they are three wickets down. "Perhaps it's something that cricket needs to look at."


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