BBC SPORT | Cricket | Tigers show signs of improvement

Shaun Pollock praised a professional performance by South Africa as Bangladesh crashed to a second successive innings Test defeat.

But the home skipper said he believed the tourists are improving as a Test side, even though they were bowled out for 107 in their second innings.

Match report: Kallis crushes Bangladesh

"They've obviously got to start somewhere," Pollock said.

"They should probably play a lot more Test cricket at home for the next few years.

"But as the tour's gone on they've shown a lot of improvement and this experience will be invaluable for them."

In a record-equalling eighth consecutive Test defeat, Bangladesh saw promising starts diminished by middle order batting collapses.

Batting first after winning the toss, the tourists put on 136 for the first two wickets, Hannan Sarkar making 65, before tumbling to 215 all out.

Bangladesh captain Khaled Mashud
Khaled Mashud's side are improving, say their hosts
"Our openers did really well but after that we couldn't get a good partnership," lamented skipper Khaled Mashud.

South Africa won the first Test by an innings and 107 runs after sweeping the three-match one-day series.

But Mashud insisted that his team had benefited from their experiences in the Republic, and would benefit when they return for the World Cup next February.

South Africa coach Eric Simons also feels Bangladesh had made significant progress over the course of the one-day and Test series.

"We might look back in a few years time and say that it was a good thing that they came here," Simons said.

"They themselves keep on saying that this is all part of a learning process for them and I've certainly felt that they've learned.

"But they're struggling a bit at the moment, there's no doubt about that."

Photo gallery: Whole match in photos

Despite the crushing win, Pollock was keen to retain focus on a packed international schedule that sees the first of two Tests against Sri Lanka beginning on 8 November.

"We wanted to bowl them out by the end of the day; we set a target and we kept to that," Pollock added.

"But we've got to put it behind us now. There's a tough Test against Sri Lanka coming up and we've got to be up for that."


	Links to more Cricket stories