Mirpur, March 19:South Africa crushed Bangladesh’s hopes of a place in the quarter-finals by subjecting them to a 206-run defeat in the penultimate Group B game of the 2011 ICC World Cup. Having put up a score of 284 in 50 overs, South Africa bowled Bangladesh out for a mere 78 runs.

South Africa, having won the toss, elected to bat. Their openers, Graeme Smith and Hashim Amla, got the team off to a terrific start putting together a 98-run partnership in just 20.4 overs. And even though Smith (45), Amla (51) and JP Duminy (17) fell in quick succession, Jacques Kallis and Faf dul Plessis put on a solid 82-run partnership that eventually got the hosts to a score of 284 for eight in 50 overs.

Kallis made 69 and du Plessis 52. Rob Peterson played another handy cameo at the end, scoring 22 off just nine deliveries while remaining not out.

Bangaldesh, who had to win this game in order to qualify for a place in the quarter-finals, put up a most disappointing display in response to South Africa’s score. Lonwabo Tsotsobe ripped through their top order as he dismissed Tamim Iqbal (5), Imrul Kayes (4) and Shahriar Nafees (5). The remaining damage was done by Peterson who took four wickets for just 12 runs in his seven over spell that saw Bangladesh crash to 78 all out.

Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan was the only batsman to notch up a double digit score of 30 runs.

The win puts South Africa at the top of Group B, irrespective of the outcome of the India versus West Indies game to be played at Chennai on March 20.

Brief scores:South Africa 284 for 8 in 50.0 overs (Jacques Kallis 69, Hashim Amla 51, Faf du Pless 52, Rubel Hossain 3/56) beat Bangladesh 78 all out in 28.0 overs (Shakib Al Hasan 30, Rob Peterson 4/12, Lonwabo Tsotsobe 3/14) by 206 runs

Man-of-the-Match:Lonwabo Tsotsobe for his bowling figures of 5-2-14-3