We lacked discipline: Graeme Smith

South Africa captain Graeme Smith said that lack of discipline was the main reason behind his side's stunning 67-run loss to Bangladesh in a Super Eight match of the World Cup here Saturday.

"Our last 10 overs were poor, we never got our discipline right and our basics throughout were poor. If you can't get your basics right you can't expect to win games," said Smith.

The Proteas' top order failed to take advantage of a good batting surface in Guyana chasing Bangladesh's 251, losing wickets at crucial stages, and were all out for 184 runs.

South Africans, ranked the number one ODI team in the world, had Bangladesh at 82 for four but missed the opportunity to make their advantage count when 'Man of the Match' Mohammed Ashraful (87) and Aftab Ahmed built a useful fifth-wicket partnership.

"I thought there were patches when we bowled well," Smith was quoted as saying by the BBC.

"We had them under pressure at times but we released that pressure. Ashraful played a superb knock and he kept us under pressure and improvised superbly."

Smith agreed that 250 was still gettable with the short boundary and the way they have been playing.

"It's one of those days when you try to come up with the right thing to say but there's no right thing to say. All the things we discussed went out of the window," said the South African captain.

"We didn't play any kind of cricket that we're capable of and it's hard to take a positive out of any facet of the game. We've just got to take our pain. It is a big loss and we're hugely disappointed."

South Africa's next game is against the West Indies Tuesday in Grenada, a game the hosts need to win if they hope to reach the last four.

"We have to regroup pretty quickly as the next three games are crucial," added Smith.

(IANS)

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