• A brief history: SA in Bangladesh

    As South Africa prepare for a Test series against Bangladesh, sacricketmag.com looks at the history between the two nations.

    The first Test series between the Proteas and Bangladesh was played in 2002-03 in South Africa. The series, like the rest which were to follow, consisted of two Tests matches and South Africa won both.

    In fact, the Proteas have a perfect 8/8 record in Test cricket against Bangladesh and are favourites to continue that winning streak when the next two-match Test series starts on 21 July in Chittagong.

    Here’s a look at the Test history between the two sides in Bangladesh:

    2003 tour
    First Test: 24-28 April 2003 in Chittagong
    South African won by an innings and 60 runs.
    This was a Test of great significance for two South African players. Graeme Smith started his long reign as captain on this tour while Jacques Rudolph scored an unbeaten 222 on debut. Paul Adams also claimed 10 wickets in the match.
    Bangladesh batted first and were bowled out for 173, thanks to Adams who claimed 5-37 in 12.3 overs. South Africa racked up 470-2 after Rudolph and Boeta Dippenaar (177 not out) dominated the Bangladesh bowlers. The hosts were dismissed for 237 in their second innings with Adams completing his 10-wicket haul thanks to figures of 5-69.

    Second Test: 1-5 May 2003 in Dhaka
    South Africa won by an innings and 18 runs
    Again, Smith and his men only needed to bat once, which is amazing if you consider they only scored 330 in the first innings. Rudolph followed up his stunning debut with a score of 71 and was ably supported by Mark Boucher (71) and Robin Peterson (61).
    All the SA bowlers came to the party, restricting Bangladesh to 102 in just 35.5 overs, thanks to Shaun Pollock (2-21), Makhaya Ntini (3-32), Alan Dawson (2-20) and Robin Peterson (2-22).
    In their second innings following on, Bangladesh could only manage to scrape together 210.

    2008 tour
    First Test: 22-26 February 2008 in Mirpur
    South Africa won by five wickets
    Morne Morkel took 5-50 in Bangladesh’s first innings to restrict the hosts to 192. South Africa fared even worse and replied with 170; AB de Villiers top scoring with 46.
    Jacques Kallis then claimed an impressive 5-30 and Dale Steyn took 4-48 as Bangladesh succumbed to 182 all out, setting South Africa a target of 205 for victory.
    Graeme Smith hit 62 and Hashim Amla 46 before De Villiers and Mark Boucher guided the team home on the fourth day.

    Second Test: 29 February-4 March 2008 in Chittagong
    South Africa won by an innings and 205 runs
    Again batting only once, South Africa amassed 583-7, on the back of  a world-record opening partnership of 415 between Neil McKenzie (226) and Graeme Smith (232).
    Steyn and Ntini each took four wickets as the Proteas dismissed the Bangladesh batsmen for 259, before they followed on and only managed 119 in their second innings with Steyn (3-35) and Robin Peterson (5-33) the chief destroyers.