Sundaymail Editor
Online Reporter
THE Zimbabwe U-19 cricket team booked their place in the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup Plate semi-final, courtesy of a 108-run victory over Scotland on Wednesday.
Having won the toss, The Young Chevrons chose to bat and put 248 on the board.
The target proved too big an ask for their European opponents, who were bowled out for 140.
Zimbabwe did not have the best of starts as captain Emmanuel Bawa and Panashe Taruvinga were both sent back to the pavilion after managing only three runs each.
Zimbabwe opener Matthew Welch, who has been in fine form for The Young Chevrons, then took matters into his own hands and ended up being instrumental in Zimbabwe’s win after making 78 runs off 117 balls.
Welch’s match-winning innings also featured the best partnership of the match, a third-wicket with Brian Bennett.
The duo made 112 runs off 132 balls, before the loss of Bennett’s wicket in the 31st over.
By this time, Bennett had made 54 off 58 deliveries.
Brian’s twin brother, David, then came in and continued from where he had left off, scoring 35 runs, before Welch was eventually caught out.
The fall of David Bennett’s wicket in the 44th over with the score at 215 then triggered a slump of sorts as batters that came in after failed to reach double figures.
Jack Jarvis was the most successful of the Scottish bowlers, taking three wickets for 46 in his 10 overs.
However, Zimbabwe’s top order had done the damage and Scotland failed to reach the 248 target.
The highest partnership for the Scots was a 28-run fourth-wicket stand, again dominated by Jarvis’ 24 off 20 balls.
Jarvis’ innings featured a six and three fours, and was only outdone by Zimbabwe’s Connor Mitchell, who had him bowled out with the score at 80 for four in the 22nd over.
Wickets fell at regular intervals for the Scots, who were finally dismissed for 140 after 39 overs.
Online Reporter