tawandamusarurwa
ZIMBABWE got their International Cricket Council (ICC) Under-19 World Cup Super Six campaign off to a bleak start, as the Young Chevrons went down to hosts South Africa by nine wickets at the Senwes Stadium on Wednesday.
The Young Proteas’ left-arm fast bowler Kwena Maphaka picked up five wickets for 34 runs, including three of Zimbabwe’s top four batters, as the Young Chevrons were bowled out for a paltry 102 runs inside the first 30 overs.
Zimbabwe were reduced to 16 for four at the start of the fifth over, and three of those wickets had gone to Maphaka.
He had struck first in the third over of the innings, removing both Brandon Sunguro and Campbell Macmillan without scoring.
The Zimbabwe pair of Ronak Patel (32) and Ryan Kamwemba (24) then went about trying to restore and rebuild the innings, as they put up a half-century fifth-wicket stand.
However, South Africa’s Tristan Luus ensured that the partnership neither lasted too long nor do too much damage as he bowled out Ronak for his 32 runs off 30 balls.
Luus struck again four balls later to get the Zimbabwe skipper Matthew Schonken out for a duck, after which the Young Chevrons lost their last six wickets for just 33 runs.
With 103 the target, South Africa raced to the finishing line in almost half the time, led by opener Lhuan-dre Pretorius’ 53 runs off 39 balls, and an innings that included nine boundaries and a maximum.
He found assistance in the top-order batters Steve Stolk (37) and David Teeger (10).
Zimbabwe’s only breakthrough came from seamer Anesu Kamuriwo, who had Stolk caught by Newman Nyamhuri. – Cricinfo/Online Reporter
Bongani Ndlovu