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Batters poor, bowlers okay

BlSHWAJIT ROY in Bloemfontein
The crushing defeat handed to the Bangladesh team at the OUTsurance Oval in the first Test of the two-match series was hardly unexpected. What was difficult was finding the answer to the question of whether there had been any improvement from six years ago, which was when theTigcrs toured the country last.
Staying true to type, the Bangladesh team tumbled like cards to suffer a humiliating innings defeat inside four days, one of which was granted only due to the blessings of the Rain God.
In their first trip to the country the Khaled Mashud-Ied Bangladesh suffered the same fate in bothTest matches.
Bangladesh captain Mohammad Ashraful however was not ready to accept the fact that they were completely annihilated in the first Test after losing the match by an innings and 129-run - hardly any improvement in their performance from the first visit.
“I must say we are improving as a team though our performance was not good in the Test. It was not unexpected because we are not used to playing in this kind of pitch," said a dejected Bangladesh captain during the postmatch briefing.
"For any team in the world it's not so easy to face the South Africa team in their own condition. So, we have to understand the reality,” he added.
The root cause of Bangladesh's poor showings remain the same as the batsmen failed to survive against the versatile pace attack led by new sensation Dale Steyn, who as expected continued his scalp-hunting by taking five
wickets in the second innings. Steyn had a match haul of seven wickets.
”1 think South Africa bowled brilliantly. I must say all of our batsmen tried to occupy the crease but ultimately failed to cope with the pace. You have to score some runs if we want to settle in this wicket and that was the reason we chased the bad ball but could not execute properly,” explained Ashraful.
Bangladesh skipper maintained his tendency of going into hibernation after playing a good knock as the right-hander scored 5 runs in the second one-day and then made only 1 and 13 in this Test after playing a 73-run knock in the first one-dayer at Potchcfstroom.
"In the first innings it was a half-volley while I could not leave the ball properly in the second innings which I should be. None of our batsmen including me threw away the wickets this time,” he defended his position.
Ashraful however was more or less happy with their bowling effort against a strong bat- , tingline-up.
"I think our bowlers performance was good in the Test because we took eight wickets in the second day for only 140 runs which I think was a brilliant effort,” he said praising his bowlers.
As usual, the Tigers captain promised to show better performance in the second and final Test, which will start from November 26, though there are awaiting another quick wicket at the Centurion.
South African skipper Graeme Smith also said that they were looking forward to the Bangladesh top order clicking in the second Test and hoping for a stiff fight from the Tigers ahead of their tough home challenge against Australia.
"New Zealand came here when we were at our peak in the middle of a lengthy season. I
think the Bangladesh tail got them respectable totals in both innings. We had them 80 for five, 80 for six both times. Obviously I was looking for their top order to perform a lot better," said the left-hander reflecting on New Zealand's pathetic batting in the last year at the same venue where the Kiwis managed 300 runs in two innings.
Smith, who was adjudged man of the match for his 157-run knock, expressed his satisfaction over the sign of his side's improvement in the series.
"Look I think it has been our first Test match for a while. So (I am) pretty happy that every one was getting into a good run," he said.
"I don't think the wicket was easy to force the pace. When we tried to do that we lost our way for a while. We also wanted our bowlers to be able bowl under little bit of pressure. If you get 600 or 650 on the board it gives the bowlers little bit more freedom. I think everyone had a good go,” Smith added.
SCOREBOARD
Final scoreboard on the fourth day of the first Test between South Africa and Bangladesh at Springbok Park on Saturday.
SOUTH AFRICA: First innings 441-9 dec BANGLADESH: First innings 153 BANGLADESH: Second innings (overnight 67-3) Tamim c Boucher bNtini 20
Imrulb Steyn 4
Zunaedc Boucher b Kallis 27
Ashrafulc McKenzie bNtini 13
Mehrabnotout 43
Shakibc Boucher b Steyn 0
Mushfiqurrunout 0
Nayeem c Boucher b Steyn 3
Mashrafeb Steyn 6
Shahadatb Steyn 16
Mahbubulc Prince b Kallis 0
Extras: (b-7, lb-17, nb-3) 27
Total: (All out in 51.5 overs) 159
Fall of wickets: 1 13,2-45,3-67,4-80,5-81,6-81, 7-92,8-108,9-152.
Bowler OMR W
Steyn 18 4 63 5
Ntini 16 8 19 2
Morkel 13 6 36 0
Kallis 4.5 0 17 2
Result: South Africa won by an innings and 129 runs. Man-of-the-match: Graeme Smith. Remaining match: Nov 26-30, Centurion.