At least it was relatively quick and painless. South Africa's pace attack demonstrated the vast gap in class, picking off Bangladesh's batsmen like skittles in an alley to complete a comprehensive innings-and-129-run victory in the first Test in Bloemfontein. Makhaya Ntini led the attack with great aggression and control while Dale Steyn, upon whom so much rests for South Africa's future firepower, cranked up the pace with his ninth five-wicket haul.
South Africa needed to get a hurry-on. Yesterday's poor weather held up their march, and the forecast for the fifth day was sufficiently dire to focus the bowlers' minds. Unfortunately, Bangladesh's resolve wasn't quite so determined, and nor was their ability to counter and cope with the pace. Plus ca change…
To Bangladesh's credit, however, they did survive the first half-hour without losing a wicket to give them hope of avoiding another defeat. In part, this was due to Morne Morkel's wayward opening spell - a concern with Australia looming on the horizon. Wicked, sniping deliveries that spat off a length were few and far between and combined with wides, bumpers and innocuous deliveries that Mohammad Ashraful and Mehrab Hossain jnr could let go.
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