Smith ensures Proteas cruise past minnows

South Africa cruised to an emphatic victory over Bangladesh to begin their ICC Champions' Trophy campaign in style and end a terrible run. Graeme Smith's men won with nine wickets and 32 overs to spare at Edgbaston after dismissing the Asian minnows for only 93.

South Africa cruised to an emphatic victory over Bangladesh to begin their ICC Champions' Trophy campaign in style and end a terrible run. Graeme Smith's men won with nine wickets and 32 overs to spare at Edgbaston after dismissing the Asian minnows for only 93.

South Africa entered this tournament on the back of a record-equalling low of 10 consecutive one-day defeats, but prospered on the same surface employed for England's win over Zimbabwe yesterday. Smith - dropped by Mohammad Ashraful off Nazmul Hossain - saw his team home with an unbeaten 42, alongside Jacques Kallis (40 not out).

Earlier, opposing captain Rajin Saleh was left to rue his decision to bat first as the top order were obliterated in the morning sunshine.

Charl Langeveldt was the destroyer-in-chief with a burst of three for one in seven balls early on, while Makhaya Ntini and Nicky Boje polished off the tail.

Langeveldt began with a half-volley which Ashraful drove through the covers for four, but he followed up with some impressive swing and seam movement.

Ashraful edged to second slip later in the over and opening partner Javed Omar was trapped lbw before Saleh nicked another tempting delivery to first slip.

Nafis Iqbal played crisply off his pads and struck six boundaries on the way to his highest one-day international score of 40, before skying straight to cover from a shot across the line.

That ended a 43-run stand with Khaled Mashud for the fifth wicket and began another collapse as the Bangladeshis set a paltry target.