Shakib Al Hasan had smartly faced the media on Monday, on the eve of his side's fifth World Cup game. However, the Bangladesh captain's confident demeanour did not rub off onto his troops against South Africa as Bangladesh bowling unit was made to look toothless.

South Africa's brand of cricket in the ongoing showpiece event has been exemplary. Apart from the shock defeat to Netherlands, they bullied oppositions with a voracious appetite for runs, resulting in three 350-plus totals -- including a record 428 for five against Sri Lanka.

It was pretty much on the cards that the Proteas would come hard at the Tigers with their attacking mindset. Courtesy of opener Quinton de Kock's third hundred in the ongoing World Cup, complemented by a blistering ninety from Heinrich Klaasen, the four-time semifinalists clobbered their way to a mammoth 382 for five, with the Tigers leaking 144 runs in the last ten overs.

Even a team like Australia fell victim to South Africa's onslaught but what separates Bangladesh from the rest in the ongoing event is their inability to raise the standard of their game.

Afghanistan may have lost to Bangladesh to kickstart their World Cup campaign on the wrong note, but their strong body language and mental strength was paramount in helping them to make a dramatic turnaround. Afghanistan, all of a sudden, now find themselves in contention for the top four spot after stunning two powerhouses: England and Pakistan.

Sent in to bowl, Bangladesh did inflict early damage to leave South Africa at 36 for two inside eight overs but the bowlers were unable to build pressure following a decent start.

Bangladesh pace unit had garnered high hopes prior to the World Cup since their impressive run around the past year. According to Shakib, the onus fell on the pace-bowling unit to take the leading role against South Africa, considering the smaller dimensions of Wankhede Stadium. But once again, the seamers continued their dismal show and failed to deliver when it mattered in the past 17 days.

None of the Bangladeshi quicks -- Mustafizur Rahman, Hasan Mahmud and Shoriful Islam -- were able to complete their full quota of ten overs. It came as little surprise that all the pacers remained on the expensive side as they rarely had the South Africa batters under any spot of bother.

Mustafizur, being the most experienced pacer in the side, was expected to take the leading role but his game awareness was lacking. Mustafizur remained wicketless after nine overs, conceding 76 runs at an economy-rate of 8.44.

Hasan Mahmud was the most expensive of the lot. Although he removed two dangermen – de Kock and Klaasen -- his six overs amounted to 67 runs. Shoriful, who gave the early breakthrough by removing Reeza Hendricks, gave away 76 runs from his nine.

Bangladesh fans may have had high expectations this time around but, given the results and the manner in which they arrived in India, it appears that the wait for something special from the Tigers will extend beyond the current edition of the prestigious event.