South Africa's fiery paceman Andre Nel took 4-27 yesterday to set up a comprehensive seven-wicket win in the second one-day international against Bangladesh.
The victory helped South Africa take an unbeatable 2-0 lead in the three-match series and moved them one step closer to reclaiming the world No. 1 spot from Australia in official ODI rankings.
The Proteas now need to win the final one-dayer against the hosts here on Friday to become the top-ranked team in the world.
The win was shaped by Nel who responded to his overnight axing from the squad to tour India this month with an aggressive opening spell that helped his side bowl out Bangladesh for 173 in 48.2 overs.
Nel's new-ball partner Charl Langeveldt chipped in with 3-31, capping an impressive bowling performance by the visitors on a sluggish pitch at the Sher-e-Bangla stadium.
South Africa survived some hiccups before surpassing the target in 48.1 overs with J.P. Duminy and A.B. de Villiers stitching an unbeaten 119-run partnership off 190 balls.
De Villiers scored 69 off 112 balls while Duminy made 49, the duo showing remarkable resilience after the side had lost three quick wickets including that of inspirational skipper Graeme Smith (28) with 60 on the board.
De Villiers hit two boundaries and a six for his 13th one-day fifty while Duminy hit just one four in his 93-ball effort.
Smith was all praise for the effort put in by his bowlers, led by man of the match Nel, as well as de Villiers and Duminy.
"We bowled very well in the first 10 overs with Nel making the most of the new swinging ball," he said. "Our middle order is pretty inexperienced and I am glad the youngsters took the responsibility and came through with the win in the end."
Bangladesh captain Mohammad Ashraful was again left ruing the inability of his batsmen to put up a bigger total on the board.
"If we had scored around 225, then it would have been a fighting total. But we lost four wickets for 18 runs and it was always difficult to come back from that," Ashraful said. "If we had avoided playing shots in the air and managed to bat on till the end, then we would have managed a decent total."
Bangladesh left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak was the most impressive among the home bowlers, picking up 2-32 including the big wicket of Smith after Mashrafe Mortaza had accounted for Herschelle Gibbs (3).
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