South Africa clinch series with seven wicket win over Bangladesh

South Africa, set a target of 152, has made a clean sweep of the Standard Bank One-Day International series by winning the third and last match in Kimberley by 8 wickets.

Bangladesh, winning the toss and deciding to bat, was soon in trouble against the swing bowling of Steve Elworthy. Using the new ball to great effect he took the first two wickets in side the first five overs. Both catches going behind the wicket, one to Mark Boucher and one to Martin van Jaarsveld at slip.

Habibul Bashar, in the team for the first time in the series, together with Sanwar Hossain played some positive cricket and were rewarded with a well played Bangladesh record partnership of 68 for the third wicket against South Africa. This is also the record partnership for any wicket for Bangladesh against South Africa.

It is hard to understand why Bashar, who played some delightful shots, did not play in the first two internationals. He also became the first Bangladesh player to score a 50 against South Africa.

Alok Kapali continued the positive attitude before he was trapped leg before from a Robin Peterson ball that kept a bit low. Peterson, capturing his first One-Day International wicket.

Peterson took his second wicket ending a partnership of 37 between Khaled Mashud and Khaled Mahmud when Mahmud charged past the ball and was bowled. At 150/7, and ten overs in hand, Bangladesh looked likely to improve on their previous high of 154 in Benoni.

Pollock put an end to that theory by getting rid of Mashud, caught and bowled from a slower delivery, and then enticing Tapash Baisya to loft a high catch to Gibbs running backwards at extra cover.

Van Jaarsveld being given the ball to bowl some off spin proceeded to take a wicket with his first ball bowled in an One-Day International, bowling Tulha Jubair and Bangladesh had collapsed to 151 all out in 43.1 overs.

Pollock, named as Man of the Match, ending with 4/24, Elworthy with 2/25 and Peterson 2/39 were the main wicket takers.

South Africa started tentatively in their chase of the 152, losing the wickets of Gibbs for 15 and Smith for 21. Both batsmen not finding their timing and having to contend with the odd ball staying low.

Enter Martin van Jaarsveld who after a nervous few balls set about the bowlers, driving and cutting nine boundaries, before being caught at mid on for 42 off 33 balls. He may just have gone to a 50, in his first innings, if he had not got just a little too aggressive. South Africa had lost their third wicket for 103.

Debutante Ashwell Prince and Jonty Rhodes put on a partnership of 49 with Rhodes slightly rusty, after his lay off from injury, but grew in confidence with every ball, to take South Africa home.

Pick of the bowlers was 16 year old Tulha Jubair and a bright future awaits him. Bowling with late in swing he might have been unlucky not to have taken more than his two wickets. For the rest, just far too many wides and no balls, 22 in total, were bowled. An area, together with the fielding, that Bangladesh has to work on.

Man of the Series went to Herschelle Gibbs for his 153 and 97 not out.