Gibbs and Kirsten polish off Bangladesh

South Africa kept alive their hopes of qualifying for the World Cup's Super Six stage with a crushing 10-wicket victory over Bangladesh in their Pool B match.

In reply to Bangladesh's paltry 108 all out in 35.1 overs, South Africa coasted home with 38 overs to spare, openers Herschelle Gibbs (49 not out) and Gary Kirsten (52 not out) cashing in on some loose bowling at Goodyear Park.

Both batsmen were in flowing form and Gibbs brought up South Africa's fifty in only the sixth over, hammering Khaled Mahmud through the covers for his fifth boundary. It brought Gibbs's aggregate for the tournament to 303 runs at an average of 151.5.

Kirsten reached his own half-century in 30 balls with a swept six off Mohammad Rafique's left-arm spin, and South Africa's hundred came up off the first ball of the 12th over.

Earlier, Makhaya Ntini took 4 for 24 as Bangladeshi collapsed for the third time in four games, with only Khaled Mashud (29) and Mahmud (23) offering resistance.

South Africa gave little indication they might be missing the services of 36-year-old fast bowler Allan Donald, left out of the side in favour of 20-year-old Monde Zondeki.

Bangladesh's troubles began early when opener Al-Sahariar played a loose shot at Pollock and was comfortably caught by Robin Peterson at mid-off to depart for a duck. Al-Sahariar's reckless shot-selection set the tone for the rest of the innings.

He was quickly followed by Mohammad Ashraful and Ehsanul Haque. When Sanwar Hossain edged Andrew Hall to third slip and Zondeki chipped in with the wicket of Alok Kapali, Bangladesh were 33 for 5. However, a partnership of 23 for the sixth wicket between captain Mashud and Tushar Imran (nine) took the total past 50.

Mashud continued his defiance with Mahmud, the pair adding 35 before Mashud (29) was caught behind. Mahmud (23) weighed in to guide Bangladesh past 100.

South Africa won toss

Bangladesh
M'mmad Al Sahariar c Peterson b Pollock 0
Ehsanul Haque c Zondeki b Pollock 3
Mohammad Ashraful c Boucher b Ntini 6
Sanuar Hossain c Kallis b Hall 11
Alok Kapali c Dippenaar b Zondeki 2
Imran Tushar c Dippenaar b Hall 9
Khaled Mashud c Boucher b Ntini 29
Khaled Mahmud c Klusener b Ntini 23
Mohammad Rafique run out 1
Monjurul Islam c Dippenaar b Ntini 0
Talha Jubair not out 4
Extras (lb4, nb8, w8): 20
Total (35.1 overs) 108

Fall:1-3, 2-14, 3-21, 4-33, 5-33, 6-56, 7-91, 8-93, 9-99.

Bowling: Pollock 6-2-8-2 (3nb); Ntini 7.1-1-24-4 (2nb); Zondeki 5-1-17-1 (4w), Hall 6-2-15-2 (2nb, 3w), Kallis 5-0-19-0 (1nb, 1w), Peterson 6-0-21-0.

South Africa
H H Gibbs not out 49
G Kirsten not out 52
Extras (lb1, w7) 8
Total (for 0, 12 overs) 109

Did not bat: J H Kallis, H H Dippenaar, A J Hall, L Klusener, M V Boucher, S M Pollock, R J Peterson, M Ntini, M Zondeki.

Bowling: Manjural Islam 4-0-26-0; Talha Jubair 2-0-24-0; Khaled Mahmud 2-0-20-0; Mohammad Rafique 2-0-20-0; Alok Kapali 2-0-18-0.

Umpires: S Venkataraghavan (India) and B Bowden (NZ).