/ 25 February 2008

SA win first Test against Bangladesh

Inspired by Jacques Kallis, South Africa wrapped up the opening Test against Bangladesh with a five-wicket victory on the fourth day in Dhaka on Monday.

The South Africans, who resumed at 178-4, collected the required 27 runs while losing the wicket of Ashwell Prince (38) in 10.4 overs in the morning.

The win saw South Africa go 1-0 up in the two-Test series. The second match begins in the port city of Chittagong on Friday.

AB de Villiers remained unbeaten on 19 while Mark Boucher, who surpassed the world record of Adam Gilchrist (416) for most number of Test dismissals on the third day, was not out on two.

It was the 46th defeat for Bangladesh in 52 Tests and the fifth on the trot against South Africa who defeated them by innings margins in all their previous encounters.

Bangladesh though could take heart from the fact that they made South Africa, ranked fourth in the official Test tables, fight hard for the win.

The Proteas survived a brief scare thanks to a five-wicket haul by Kallis and a composed 62 off 104 balls by skipper Graeme Smith.

Bangladesh looked all set for a substantial lead on the third morning with talented opener Junaid Siddique going strong on 74 but Kallis cut short their aspirations through some inspired effort with the old ball.

Kallis’ 5-30, his fifth five-wicket haul in Tests, saw the hosts being bundled out for 182 and their second innings lead restricted to 204.

Speedster Dale Steyn finished with 4-48 as Bangladesh’s innings folded at the stroke of lunch.

Smith, who scored his 20th Test 50 off 80 balls, laid the platform for the chase, putting on crucial partnerships with opener Neil McKenzie (26) and Hashim Amla (46).

Smith (62) put on 52 runs with McKenzie and a 73-run stand for the second wicket with Amla before he was deceived by a Mohammad Rafique ball that kept low.

He tried to work the ball through the on side but it hit him in line with the middle stump and umpire Steve Bucknor had no hesitation in raising his finger.

There was some more drama as Bangladesh claimed two more quick wickets to renew hopes of what could have been only their second Test to date, their only other success coming against minnows Zimbabwe.

Shahadat Hossain, the bowling hero in the first innings with a career-best haul of 6-27, took the prized wicket of Kallis while Rafique accounted for Amla.

Kallis lost his wicket when he pulled one to Mashrafe Mortaza at backward square leg for seven, but the task remaining for the South Africans on the fourth day posed little challenge. ‒ Sapa-AFP