• This was the 2005th match in One-Day International cricket history.
• Bangladesh were playing without Khaled Masud – their most experienced player. Masud had appeared in 42 consecutive matches since 24-03-1999 and a total of 60 matches for Bangladesh.
• Mohammad Salim (right handed batsman & wicket-keeper) was making his international debut. He became 65th player to represent Bangladesh in ODIs. He also became fifth player to don gloves for Bangladesh.
• Shaun Pollock, with the wicket of Habibul Bashar, became the leading wicket taker for South Africa in ODIs. He surpassed Allan Donald’s tally of 272 wickets from 164 matches. Pollock, at the end of this match, has 275 wickets from 190 games to his name. The fifth wicket partnership of 55 runs between Kapali and Khaled Mahmud was Bangladesh’s best for this wicket against South Africa bettering the previous best of 28 between Akram Khan and Kapali at Dhaka two days back.
• The seventh wicket partnership of 41 runs between Kapali and Mohammad Salim was Bangladesh’s best for this wicket obliterating the previous best of 37 between Khaled Mahmud and Khaled Masud at Kimberley on 09-10-2002.
• Shaun Pollock won his 14th MoM award in his 189th match.

(Article: Copyright © 2003 Rajneesh Gupta)