South Africa ended their run of ten consecutive one-day defeats with a gentle workout win against Bangladesh at Edgbaston.

The South Africans, winners of this tournament when it was first held six years ago, removed any early concerns about the potential for an upset once Bangladesh had won the toss and defied conventional wisdom and electing to bat.

They were reduced to 20-4 with some penetrative and hostile early bowling from Shaun Pollock (1-15) and man of the match Charl Langeveldt (3-17).

Only Nafis Iqbal (40) and Khaled Mashud (24) made it to double figures, and further three wicket hauls for Makhaya Ntini and Nicky Boje saw them skittled out for a dismal 93 in only 31-3 overs.

Herschelle Gibbs' miserable recent run of form continued when Tapash Baisya rolled back his off stump when he'd made only four, with that was as far as Bangladesh's success went, despite a lively spell of fast bowling by 16 year old debutant Nazmul Hossain.

Captain Graeme Smith (42*) and Jacques Kallis (40*) knocked off the runs needed for victory in double-quick time, with their next game against the West Indies likely to decide which team progresses to meet either India or Pakistan in the second semi-final.

Bangladesh:

Javed Omar, Mohammad Ashraful, Nafis Iqbal, Rajin Saleh, Aftab Ahmed, Mushfiqur Rahman, Khaled Mashud, Manjural Islam Rana, Mohammad Rafique, Nazmul Hossain, Tapash Baisya.

South Africa:

GC Smith, HH Gibbs, JH Kallis, JA Rudolph, M van Jaarsveld, MV Boucher, SM Pollock, L Klusener, N Boje, CK Langeveldt, M Ntini.

12 Sep, 2004