September 17, 2007	Monday	Ramazan 04, 1428

CAPE TOWN, Sept 16: Bangladesh’s batsmen launched a ferocious attack on South Africa’s bowlers but were unable to bat out their 20 overs in the last preliminary round fixture of the Twenty20 World Championship at the Newlands on Saturday.

South Africa cruised to a seven-wicket win after Bangladesh were bowled out for 144 after 19.3 overs after being sent in.

In an astonishing start, Bangladesh slammed 58 runs off the first 4.2 overs but lost their first four batsmen in the process.

The first 38 runs in the innings came from boundaries, with Aftab Ahmed leading the charge as he made 36 off 14 balls, with five fours and two sixes.

Mohammad Ashraful hit the first ball he faced from Shaun Pollock for six, the next for four and then was out in the third over of the innings. Pollock took two wickets in the over but conceded 15 runs.

After eight overs Bangladesh had lost five wickets while scoring 78 runs.

But the assault continued, with Mashrafe Mortaza slogging two sixes before being caught in the deep. Pollock finished with three wickets but conceded 40 runs in 3.3 overs.

Morne Morkel and Vernon Philander, relative newcomers to international cricket, took two for 21 and two for 23 respectively.

Graeme Smith and fellow left-hander J.P. Duminy put on 65 for the first wicket for South Africa.

Duminy made 36 and Smith 41. Another left-hander, Albie Morkel, hit a rapid 41 before A.B. de Villiers and Justin Kemp took South Africa to victory, with Kemp finishing the match with a six off Mashrafe with seven balls to spare.

Scoreboard

BANGLADESH:

Tamim Iqbal c Smith b Pollock 8

M. Nazimuddin lbw b Ntini 0

Aftab Ahmed b M Morkel 36

Mohammad Ashraful c Smith b Pollock 10

Saqibul Hasan run out 19

Alok Kapali c de Villiers b M. Morkel 14

Mashrafe Mortaza c Duminy b Philander 12

Farhad Reza c Kemp b Philander 19

Mushfiqur Rahim c Pollock b van der Wath 4

Abdur Razzak not out 2

Syed Rasel b Pollock 6

EXTRAS (LB-10, W-3, NB-1) 14

TOTAL (all out, 19.3 overs) 144

FALL OF WKTS: 1-8, 2-24, 3-34, 4-58, 5-77, 6-101, 7-119, 8-131, 9-134.

BOWLING: Pollock 3.3-0-40-3; Ntini 2-0-31-1; M. Morkel 4-0-21-2 (1nb, 1w); van der Wath 4-0-13-1 (1w); Philander 4-0-23-2; A. Morkel 2-0-6-0 (1w).

SOUTH AFRICA:

G.C. Smith c Mushfiqur b Saqibul 41

J.P. Duminy lbw b Razzak 36

J.A. Morkel c Farhad b Razzak 41

A.B. de Villiers not out 14

J.M. Kemp not out 12

EXTRAS (LB-1, W-1) 2

TOTAL (for three wkts, 18.5 overs) 146

FALL OF WKTS: 1-65, 2-108, 3-123.

DID NOT BAT: M.V. Boucher, S.M. Pollock, V.D. Philander, J.J. van der Wath, M. Morkel, M. Ntini.

BOWLING: Mashrafe Mortaza 3.5-0-33-0; Syed Rasel 4-0-28-0; Abdur Razzak 4-0-26-2; Mohammad Ashraful 2-0-17-0 (1w); Saqibul Hasan 4-0-28-1; Farhad Reza 1-0-13-0.

RESULT: South Africa won by seven wickets.

UMPIRES: Asad Rauf (Pakistan) and A.L. Hill (New Zealand).

TV UMPIRE: I.L. Howell (South Africa).

MATCH REFEREE: R.S. Madugalle (Sri Lanka).

MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Morne Morkel.

—AFP