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De Villiers steers Proteas to victory

South Africa's Mark Boucher, right, scores the winning runs as Bangladeshi fielder Aftab Ahmed jumps and wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim looks on yesterday in Dhaka. PHOTO: AFP

AB de Villiers anchored the morning session on the fourth day of the first Test to guide South Africa to a five-wicket victory over Bangladesh with almost two days to spare.

Ashwell Prince and de Villiers resumed their partnership at the overnight score of 178 for four chasing just 205, and South Africa needed just 10.5 overs to claim the win. Bangladesh are yet to record a Test victory over South Africa.

Prince and de Villiers added 15 runs before the left-handed Prince was trapped lbw by pace bowler Shahadat Hossain for 38. Prince hit five boundaries in his 60-ball innings.

De Villiers (19) then paired with Mark Boucher (5) to ensure the victory.

On Sunday, South Africa captain Graeme Smith steered his side to the brink of victory when he compiled a patient 62 off 104 balls.

South Africa now has a 1-0 series lead ahead of the second and final Test starting on Friday at Chittagong.

While Bangladesh's batting ultimately let the team down, Hossain took nine wickets in the match to slow South Africa's progress.

Batsman Junaid Siddique was the only player to take charge after captain Mohammad Ashraful and former skipper Habibul Bashar both faltered, as Bangladesh failed to reach 200 runs in either of the two innings.

Bangladesh captain Mohammad Ashraful said his team should have done more to capitalize on the batting-friendly Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium wicket.

"The boys played well. I think we needed 50 or 60 runs more," Ashraful said. "We should have scored 250 plus in the first innings. Shahadat bowled really well on this kind of track."

Smith acknowledged the match was harder than the scoreboard indicated and his team is still adjusting to the Bangladesh pitch.

"The conditions were tougher than any other subcontinent wicket," he said. "I am happy because it was good to see that the batsmen did not make the same mistakes as they did in the first innings."
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