DHAKA, 18 April 2003 — South Africa, as expected, set up a title-clash with India by scoring a 93-run win over Bangladesh in the three-nation tournament here yesterday. Alok Kapali waged a lone battle as a target of 262 proved too much for Bangladesh, who were bowled out for 168 in 49 overs to crash to their fourth consecutive loss in the tournament and 36th overall.

Kapali struck a defiant second one-day half-century, his 70 coming with the help of five fours. He also took two wickets with his leg-spin stuff. For South Africa, Shaun Pollock put up a fine all-round performance, taking three wickets after a quick unbeaten 38 that helped boost the total to 261-5 on electing to bat at the Bangabandhu National Stadium.

“I thought we gave away too many runs in the end overs, when Pollock was hitting us around,” said Bangladesh captain Khaled Mahmud. “It was always going to be difficult chasing the target.”

Others to do well for South Africa were wicketkeeper Mark Boucher (five victims), seamer Andrew Hall (three wickets) and the left-handed duo of Jacques Rudolph and Graeme Smith, who struck fine half-centuries.

Rudolph got a maiden fifty in his third one-dayer, making the most of a dropped catch by Habibul Bashar at second slip off paceman Tapas Baishya when he had yet to open his account.

He played some fine shots square of the wicket on the off side, crossing the half-century mark with a flowing cover-drive from off-spinner Sanwar Hossain, one of his eight boundaries.

Rudolph was caught behind off Sanwar while shaping for a cut, but not before he had put on 101 for the second wicket with skipper Smith, who slammed his seventh one-day half-century in 25 matches. The 22-year-old left-hander scored 67 off 76 balls with the help of eight fours and a pulled six to square-leg off medium-pacer Khaled Mahmud, before edging a Sanwar delivery on to the stumps.

Later, former captain Pollock and Neil McKenzie (39) were associated in an unbroken sixth-wicket partnership of 69 that helped inflate the total after a sedate start and middle overs.

Pollock came up with some lusty hitting during his 20-ball knock, which consisted of two fours and two sixes. McKenzie was innovative during his 43-ball essay, in which he hit five fours.

South Africa made one change from the side that played their last match, bringing in Andrew Hall for other paceman Charle Willoughby. Bangladesh made three changes, dropping former captain and wicketkeeper Khaled Mashud for the first time in seven years and also removing paceman Tariq Aziz and batsman Javed Omar from the eleven.

Wicketkeeper Mohammad Salim, left-arm pacer Manjural Islam and Sanwar Hossain came in. In the last league match to be played today, South Africa will take on India, who have won all their three matches. The final is slated for Sunday.