Scoreboard

South Africa proved too hot for Bangladesh in their opening Group B match in the ICC Champions Trophy on Sunday.

On a sunny, but cold day at Edgbaston, the Proteas shot out the minnows before the crowd could settle into their seats for a paltry 93 runs in 31.3 overs and then raced home in 17.5 overs to win by nine wickets.

Seamer Charl Langeveldt ripped through the Bangladesh top order before Makhaya Ntini mopped up the tail as South Africa made it a one-sided affair.

Langeveldt, later named man of the match, claimed three wickets for 17 runs, fellow-fast bowler Ntini claimed 3 for 19 and Nicky Boje 3 for 23, the last named chipping in with the key wicket of top scorer Nafis Iqbal, who scored 40 before skying a catch to Herschelle Gibbs.

Left-arm spinner Boje also captured the wicket of Khaled Mashud, the last man out after a stubborn innings of 24.

Mashud, the only other batsman besides Iqbal to reach double figures, got a top edge to Graeme Smith.

Bangladesh captain Rajin Saleh, aged only 20, won the toss and elected to bat. The newest Test-playing nation paid a huge price for inexperience, not aware that English conditions, especially late in the season, favour batting second.

In reply, South Africa, who had lost their last ten games, recovered from the early loss of Herschelle Gibbs (4) and cantered to victory.

Skipper Graeme Smith (42 off 52 balls) and Jacques Kallis (40 off 44 balls) did not waste much time at the wicket and finished off the match quickly.

Tapas Baisya was the only successful bowler for a Bangladeshi team that was way out of depth.

The defeat once again raises the question: Does Bangladesh really belong among the Test-playing nations?

The other team in Group B is the West Indies.