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Hosts defeat Bangladesh by 7 wickets

South Africa beat Bangladesh by 7 wickets on Saturday in the World Twenty20 Championships with Graeme Smith and Albie Morkel each scoring 41 runs for the tournament hosts.

South Africa, who won the toss and chose to field, ended with 146-3 in reply to Bangladesh's 144 all out at the Newlands Stadium.

Bangladesh lost wickets at regular intervals in an attempt to keep their run rate high, reaching 50 in the fourth over and 100 in the 11th.

Aftab Ahmed smashed 36 off 14 balls with five fours and two sixes.

But the run rate came at a cost, with Bangladesh reduced to 101-6 and losing their last wicket with three balls still left in the innings.

Morne Morkel took 2-21 from his four overs.

Smith and J.P. Duminy -- opening for Herschelle Gibbs who was resting a pulled hamstring -- started the reply cautiously, and each scored well. Smith's 41 took 34 balls and included six fours, while Duminy's 36 came off 28 balls with four fours and one six.

Morkel came in at No. 3 to set up the victory with 41 off 29 balls, while Abdur Razzak was the best of the Bangladesh bowlers with 2-26 off his four overs.

Earlier on Saturday, Sri Lanka beat New Zealand by seven wickets at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg, with Sanath Jayasuriya scoring his second half-century in two days.

Jayasuriya hit 61 off 44 balls with six fours and three sixes in the Group C match.
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