Bangladesh aim for consolation win

Though Bangladesh have already lost the series after defeats in the first two games, their captain Mohammad Ashraful has said the third and final ODI in East London will be just as important as the previous matches.

"Every international match we play helps our cricket development," Ashraful said. "For the players, it is another opportunity to show what they are capable of and when you perform against top quality sides, the confidence level goes up a notch."

In the second ODI in Benoni, Bangladesh grassed three opportunities off Hashim Amla, who went on to make his maiden one-day century and led South Africa to 358. "We haven't fielded anywhere near our usual standards and the top-order batsmen have not contributed as the team would have liked," Ashraful said. "These are areas we will try to improve in Wednesday's match."

He, however, felt the players had adjusted well to the pitches and conditions in South Africa. "It was quite chilly at Benoni but otherwise we have adapted well I think. The batters haven't looked out of place against pace bowling of the highest quality and we continue to bowl well apart from in the third powerplay overs. The wickets have even bounce and you can score quickly if you stick to proper cricket shots."

Ashraful also said he was not concerned about Graeme Smith's comments that Bangladesh played negative cricket at Benoni while chasing 359. "We don't spend time thinking about what other people are saying. Our job is to try and play to the best of our ability and that's where our focus is. We know that when we manage to do that in every department then we become quite competitive against any team anywhere in the world."

Bangladesh have left out Mashrafe Mortaza and Raqibul Hasan for Wednesday's match. Vice-captain Mortaza is suffering from a sore back while Raqibul has made only 18 runs in his lats four outings, including two ducks.

"We want a fully-fit Mortaza for the Test series as he is a very important player for us," physio Darryn Lifson. "He is still not a 100% and therefore not playing tomorrow."