Saturday, November 8, 2008

South Africa beats Bangladesh by 61 runs in the 1st ODI


Fast bowler Dale Steyn wrecked Bangladesh with a haul of 4-16 to help South Africa complete a 61-run victory in their first one-day cricket international Friday.

Bangladesh was bowled for 222 in the 45th over, after good late-innings hitting propelled South Africa to 283-8 at Senwes Park.

South Africa leads 1-0 in the three-match series, with the next match scheduled for Sunday in Benoni.

Man of the match Steyn, only recently returned to action after illness, snared two early wickets to leave the Bangladeshis on 19-2. Later, he removed danger man and captain Mohammad Ashraful for 73 as he struck twice in two balls in the 35th over.

Ashraful had featured in two threatening partnerships. He and opener Tamim Iqbal - 24 off 39 balls with four fours - added 54 for the third wicket, keeping up the required run-rate until the 14th over.

Then, after Iqbal was run out, Ashraful paced himself well in concert with left-hander Shakib Al Hasan - 51 off 77 balls with six fours - to add 92 for the fifth wicket in 20 overs.

Bowling with attitude, Steyn struck with the first ball of his second spell, having Ashraful, who had started to accelerate his scoring rate ominously, caught behind. The small but powerful right-hander smashed 10 fours in a delightful 79-ball innings, four of them in one Johan Louw over.

After his dismissal, Bangladesh folded and was all out in 44.2 overs. Allrounder Albie Morkel also grabbed two wickets in an over in his 3-40, while his brother Morne finished with 2-44.

South Africa smashed 66 in its final five overs to make the total competitive.

Rookie allrounder Louw battered three sixes and a boundary for 23 off seven balls, and captain Johan Botha hit five fours but needed eight extra deliveries for his 23.

The Proteas' run-rate had earlier been slowed by Bangladeshi spinners Naeem Islam and Abdur Razzak.

Jacques Kallis top-scored with 50 off 73 balls and put on the biggest partnership of 69 with A.B. de Villiers - 35 off 43 with three fours - for the third wicket in just under 15 overs. Kallis was out to a good catch on the long-leg boundary by Iqbal off Islam.

The only other 50-run stand was between openers Hashim Amla and Justin Ontong. Amla was run out for 35 off 34 balls with six fours after being sent back when attempting a risky single, to leave South Africa at 56-1. Ontong hit four fours in his 27 off 38 balls.

Botha slammed a four off the first ball of the 46th over through mid-on to start the late onslaught, and picked up another boundary sweeping to fine-leg in the same over.

He flicked two boundaries in two balls off reverse sweeps in the next over from Islam, but was out immediately afterward when he top-edged a conventional sweep to Razzak.

That brought Louw to the wicket and he smashed a six to midwicket off his first ball, from slow left-armer Shakib al Hasan, then repeated the feat immediately, hitting the ball even farther.

Louw followed the sixes with a beautiful cover drive to the fence off the third ball he faced, to take his tally to 16.

In the 49th and next over, Louw easily cleared the midwicket boundary for a third six. But he was out off the first ball of the final over, bowled by left-arm seamer Syed Rasel as he went for another big shot.

At the other end, the Proteas' renowned big hitter, Albie Morkel, rotated the strike. He brought an end to the innings by lifting a ball from Rasel over the boundary at wide mid-on to finish 32 not out off 39 balls with two fours and a six.

Islam was the best of the Bangladesh bowlers with 3-60 after dismissing Kallis, De Villiers and Botha.

For more news

Steyn blows Bangladesh away The Times, South Africa

Steyn rescues stuttering Proteas Independent Online, South Africa

SA beat Bangladesh by 61 runs Dispatch Online, South Africa

Steyn too sharp for Tigers SkySports

Steyn pace sinks Bangladesh AFP

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