Giant killers B'desh shock South Africa by 67 runs

Georgetown, Guyana, Apr 8 (UNI) To the ever-increasing list of top teams humbled by giant killers Bangladesh, add another name -- South Africa! For the Tigers this time produced the biggest shock of the World Cup so far, mauling the paper tigers -- the numero uno ODI team -- by 67 runs in their Super Eights league match at Providence stadium here yesterday.

Bangladesh, powered by a masterly 87 (83 balls) by Mohd Ashraful, went on to post their highest total in the event -- 251 for eight in 50 overs -- and then bundled out the much-vaunted Protea batting line-up for just 184 in 48.4 overs.

Graeme Smith's decision to chase proved disastrous as the surface deteriorated considerably and the Bangla spinners called the shots as the Protea batsmen looked clueless.

Left arm spinner duo of Abdur Razzak (three for 25) and Saqibul Hasan (two for 49) did the maximum damage. For South Africa, only Herschelle Gibbs offered some resistance with unbeaten 56 but failed to get any support from the rest.

The shock defeat has dented South Africa's elusive quest for a World Cup title throwing the race for the semifinals wide open. The Proteas are now fourth with four points while England and hosts West Indies -- both with two points -- have received a fresh lease of life after today's match.

And even Bangladesh, lying seventh with two points, now have an outside chance to make it into the last four.

Playing superlative cricket throughout the day, Bangladesh, under-fire after their drubbing at the hands of Australia and New Zealand, bounced back with a bang bigger than before forcing captain Habibul Bashar to admit that it was even better than defeating India.

A devastated and humiliated Smith was at loss of words and admitted that the Bangladesh deserved to win as they played better cricket.

Bashar gave the maximum credit to Mohd Ashraful and deservingly so as the talented batsmen, adjudged man-of-the-match for his 87, swept aside the Proteas with some street smart cricket eclipsing even the five-wicket haul of Andre Nel.

Such was domination of the Bangladesh throughout the day, that they never gave any chance to South Africa once they lost Greame Smith, bowled by Syed Rasel, for 12 within the sixth over.

The match swung decisively in favour of Bangladesh when Jacques Kallis after a polished 32 threw away his wicket giving a simplest catch Tamim Iqbal off, again, Rasel to leave South Africans at 63 for two in the 16th over.

Kallis's departure brought in pressure and Abdur Razzak castled AB de Villers (15) soon to while Ashwell Prince ran himself out as the Proteas lost two more wickets in another four overs adding just six runs to the total.

A two-wicket burst by another left arm slow bowler Saqibul Hasan, which saw Mark Boucher and Justin Kemp departing in consecutive balls, put to rest whatever little the hopes of South African recovery were.

And with Shaun Pollock (17) falling short of crease on a brilliant Tamim Iqbal throw, victory became question of when rather than whether for Bangladesh.

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