Smith Century Too Good For Bangladesh In Chittagong
Graeme Smith (left) beats the field on his way to his century.
©REUTERS/Rafiqur Rahman (BANGLADESH) Picture Supplied by Action Images
178 (Tamim Iqbal 82, Nel 3-24, Morkel, Harris 2-30)
South Africa 180-1 (Smith 103no, Gibbs 57)
Scorecard
South Africa won by nine wickets and lead the series 1-0
Tamim Iqbal scored a fine half-century, but thereafter Bangladesh collapsed in familiar fashion as South Africa ran out comfortable nine-wicket winners of the opening One Day International in Chittagong with Graeme Smith scoring an unbeaten century.
Tamim hit 82 from 98 balls including nine fours and a six to get his side off to a good start, although at the other end, wickets tumbled with Andre Nel taking three for 24. Charl Langeveldt, Albie Morkel and debutant Paul Harris picked up two wickets as the Tigers were dismissed for just 178.
No player could offer Tamim any sort of support, although he did manage to add a partnership of 42 with debutant Raqibul Hasan (15) for the fifth wicket before the opener was caught by Morkel off of Harris.
New wicket-keeper Dhiman Ghosh and Abdur Razzak also scored 15, while Shahriar Nafees hit 12. For the rest, it was single figure scores as the South Africans tied them down with a good bowling display.
Herschelle Gibbs then celebrated his recall to the side with a half-century, scoring 57 from 84 balls in an opening stand of 143 with Graeme Smith. Any chance Bangladesh had rested on early wickets, and it took until the 29th over for Shakib Al Hasan to trap Gibbs in front.
They even opened the bowling with Razzak and gave Junaid Siddique a bowl, but nothing was working for them as the South Africans laid into Shahadat Hossain, carting him for 31 from three overs and giving Mosharraf Hossain a tough first match, hammering him for 40 from six.
Smith passed 7000 runs in One Day cricket during his innings, and with his sights set on 5000 in ODIs, completed his 7th ODI century as he won the match with a four off of Shakib Al Hasan.
The second match takes place in Mirpur on March 12th.
� Cricket World 2008
