South Africa left Allan Donald on the sidelines as they kept alive their hopes of qualifying for the World Cup's Super Six stage with a 10-wicket demolition of Bangladesh yesterday.
In reply to Bangladesh's 108 all out in 35.1 overs, South Africa raced home in only 12 overs, Herschelle Gibbs scoring 49 not out and Gary Kirsten hammering a 30-ball half-century at Goodyear Park.
"I thought we bowled well today and then to knock up the runs that quickly was great," said South Africa captain Shaun Pollock.
PHOTO: REUTERS
"I think the guys did a good job with the ball, the disciplines were there and we hit the right areas."
However South Africa's team sheet caused a stir when 36-year-old fast bowler Donald was left out in favour of 20-year-old paceman Monde Zondeki.
Donald, who had been desperate to play on his home ground, has been struggling for form and his omission could well signal the end of the road for South Africa's most successful test and one-day bowler.
Donald or no Donald, Bangladesh never looked likely to mount a serious challenge.
For skipper Khaled Mashud, a poor start by his batsmen in the Group B encounter set the tone. "I think we played too many shots too soon," he said.
In reply, the South African openers were in flowing form against a toothless Bangladeshi attack and Gibbs brought up the team's fifty in only the sixth over, hammering Khaled Mahmud through the covers for his fifth boundary.
Kirsten moved to his own half-century with two fours and a six off consecutive deliveries from the left-arm spin of Mohammad Rafique, his 52 including nine boundaries and a six.
Gibbs faced 40 balls, hitting eight fours and a six.
Their century partnership was their ninth in one-day internationals, moving them into third place above Australia's Mark Waugh and Adam Gilchrist in the all-time standings.
India's Sachin Tendulkar and Saurav Ganguly head the list with 17 hundred partnerships, with the West Indian pair of Gordon Greenidge and Desmond Haynes second on 15.
South Africa delivered a professional all-round display, having set their stall on improving their net run rate to enhance the side's prospects of securing a place in the tournament's second phase.
Earlier, Makhaya Ntini took four for 24 as the Bangladeshi batting collapsed for the third time in four matches, captain Mashud (29) and Mahmud (23) the only batsmen to offer much resistance.
Bangladesh's only points have come in a washed-out match against West Indies.
Their troubles began early when opener Al-Sahariar played a flat-footed, reckless swipe at Pollock and was comfortably caught by Robin Peterson at mid off to depart for a duck.
Medium pacer Andrew Hall and Zondeki maintained the pressure, snapping up three more wickets as Bangladesh slumped to 33 for five.
However a partnership of 23 for the sixth wicket between Mashud and Tushar Imran (nine) took the Bangladeshis past 50.
Mashud continued his defiance with Mahmud, the pair adding 35, before Mashud was caught behind in the first over of Ntini's second spell.
After Rafique was run out after a farcical mix-up with Mahmud, Ntini had Manjurul Islam well caught by Boeta Dippenaar at third slip for a duck.
Mahmud weighed in with some powerful blows to guide Bangladesh past 100, but handed Ntini his fourth wicket when he carved the fast bowler straight to third man to end the innings.
Meannwhille, England moved on to 193-6 after 40 overs in their World Cup Group A match against Pakistan yesterday.
Paul Collingwood was unbeaten on 37, with Craig White on 15 as the pair tried to help their side recover from the loss of early wickets.
Alec Stewart was earlier bowled by Shahid Afridi for 30 soon after Michael Vaughan fell to Shoaib Akhtar for 52, leaving England in trouble at 118-5. The pair shared a run-a-ball half-century partnership after England had slumped to 59-3.
England captain Nasser Hussain won the toss.
Wasim Akram forced Marcus Trescothick to edge an outswinger to wicketkeeper Rashid Latif for one. 7-1.
Vaughan was caught at square leg off a Wasim no ball.
Nick Knight, on 15, charged down the pitch in Waqar Younis's first over and gave a simple catch to Abdul Razzaq at mid-off. 45-2.
Hussain tried to cut a ball from Waqar and edged a catch to Latif diving to his right. 59-3.
Vaughan swept Saqlain Mushtaq fine for four to reach his fifty.
Vaughan cut Shoaib powerfully to backward point where Younis Khan took a good low catch to his right. 110-4.
Stewart was bowled through the gate in Afridi's first over. 118-5.
Andrew Flintoff, after a disciplined inings, was deceived by Saqlain's straight ball and stumped by Latif. 160-6.
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