BLOEMFONTEIN (South Africa), Feb 22: South Africa kept alive their hopes of qualifying for the World Cup’s Super Six stage with a crushing 10-wicket victory over Bangladesh in their Group ‘B’ match on Saturday.

In reply to Bangladesh’s paltry 108 all out in 35.1 overs, South Africa coasted home with 38 overs to spare, openers Herschelle Gibbs (49 not out) and Gary Kirsten (52 not out) cashing in on some loose bowling at Goodyear Park.

Both batsmen were in flowing form and Gibbs brought up South Africa’s fifty in only the sixth over, hammering Khaled Mahmud through the covers for his fifth boundary.

Kirsten reached his own half-century in 30 balls with a swept six off Mohammad Rafique’s left-arm spin six and South Africa’s hundred came up off the first ball of the 12th over.

Earlier, Makhaya Ntini took four for 24 as the Bangladeshi batting collapsed for the third time in four matches, captain Khaled Mashud (29) and Mahmud (23) the only batsmen to offer much resistance.

South Africa gave little indication they might be missing the services of 36-year-old fast bowler Allan Donald, left out of the side in favour of 20-year-old paceman Monde Zondeki.

Donald has been struggling for form in the tournament and his omission could well signal the end of the road for South Africa’s most successful Test and one-day bowler.

But Donald or no Donald, Bangladesh never looked likely to mount a serious challenge with the bat.

Their troubles began early when opener Al-Shahriar played a loose shot at Pollock and was comfortably caught by Robin Peterson at mid off to depart for a duck. Al-Shahriar’s reckless shot selection set the tone for the rest of the innings.

He was quickly followed by Mohammad Ashraful (six), who edged Ntini behind, and then Ehsanul Haque (three off 30 balls), who was undone by a Pollock slower ball, Zondeki taking a good catch diving forward at mid on.

When Sanwar Hossain edged Andrew Hall to third slip and Zondeki chipped in with the wicket of Alok Kapali, Bangladesh were 33 for five and in danger of complete humiliation for a third time at this World Cup.

However a partnership of 23 for the sixth wicket between captain Mashud and Tushar Imran (nine) took the Bangladeshis past 50.

Mashud continued his defiance with Mahmud, the pair adding 35 before Mashud (29) was caught behind in the first over of Ntini’s second spell.

After Rafique (one) was run out after a farcical mix-up with Mahmud, Ntini had Manjurul Islam well caught by Boeta Dippenaar at third slip for a duck.

Mahmud (23) weighed in with some powerful blows to guide Bangladesh past 100, but handed Ntini his fourth wicket when he carved the fast bowler to third man to end the innings.

Scoreboard

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