Dhaka: South Africa put behind a dismal loss to India at the weekend by scoring a comfortable 83-run win over Bangladesh on Monday in a three-nation tournament here.

A fine batting display by South Africa helped it score 294-3 on electing to bat at the Bangabandhu National Stadium, after which it bowled the opposition out for 211 in the last over.

Skipper Graeme Smith had the satisfaction of seeing all his batsmen come good after a forgettable 153-run defeat to India on Sunday in his first match at the helm.

Boeta Dippenaar, Herschelle Gibbs and Neil McKenzie came up with half- centuries which were supplemented by useful efforts from Jacques Rudolph and Smith himself.

Dippenaar (66 not out) was the highest scorer, his 16th One-day half-century coming off 80 deliveries with the help of seven fours. He put on 105 runs for the unbroken fourth-wicket stand with McKenzie (55).

Earlier South African openers Herschelle Gibbs (62) and Smith (45) put on 112 runs in just 16 overs but threw away their wickets.

Gibbs's 17th One-day half-century came with the help of 10 boundaries off 63 balls before he was run out going for a second run following a mis-field by Javed Omar at mid-off.

Left-hander Smith jumped out and was stumped off left-arm spinner Mohammad Rafique after hitting eight fours off 46 deliveries.

Jacques Rudolph, who came in at number three, chipped in with a brisk 44 off 45 balls.

A successful chase under lights never looked likely despite an unimpressive display by the South African bowlers, among whom only former captain Shaun Pollock and other seamer Allan Dawson bowled well.

Pollock took four wickets and Dawson three.

Opener Mohammad Ashraful played defiantly but slowly for 52, his second One-day half- century, which came off 94 deliveries. He put on 58 for the second wicket with Habibul Bashar (18), the most valuable stand of the innings.

Ashraful was caught behind off Paul Adams, who came in for other left-arm spinner Robin Peterson.

Captain Khaled Mahmud scored a futile 40 off 41.

Bangladesh made three changes from the side that played its first match, bringing in Javed Omar, Habibul Bashar and Tariq Aziz for Mehrab Hossain, Tushar Imran and Manjural Islam.

Copyright AFP 2001

Extras:
Scorecard
SA too finds India hot to handle, Kaif excels