Publications
Partners
Dhaka - South African captain Graeme Smith said his "street-smart" team are now better prepared to face sides from the sub-continent than four years ago at World Cup in the Caribbean.
South Africa crashed to a surprise 67-run defeat to Bangladesh at the World Cup Super Eight stage in 2007.
They recovered to reach the semi-finals before losing to eventual winners Australia but on Saturday face Bangladesh again with the co-hosts needing victory to reach the last eight from the round-robin Group B.
"Obviously, they play a lot on the front foot. I think we are a lot more street-smart now playing against sub-continental teams than 2007, in terms of knowing how to beat them, knowing how to play against them," Smith said.
"We have a better understanding of what to expect.
"If you can keep them under pressure from the start then obviously they don't have a huge confidence base to go back on and that's obviously the goal," said Smith.
Knowing they have already qualified for the quarter-finals while Bangladesh need a result to progress, Smith's men are expecting a tough battle.
"Obviously it's a big game for Bangladesh as they need to win the game. We expect them to be very motivated," said Smith.
"We expect a very passionate crowd here tomorrow (Saturday) but obviously they will be under pressure.
"So if we can really keep our basics right, perform well for a longer period of time, force them to maybe do things they wouldn't want to do, they will be feeling the pressure," he said.
South Africa defeated West Indies, Netherlands, India and Ireland and narrowly lost to England to become the only side so far from Group B to qualify for the knockout stage.
"We probably exceeded our expectations - probably exceeded lots of other people's expectations - to be topping Group B. It was a tough group.
"The Group B has got the World Cup off to a great start."
Smith, however, expected the knockout stage to really set the World Cup alight.
"I think the knockout phase is really going to make the World Cup. You are going to have top teams in the knockout phase - it's really exciting."
