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EXPECTATIONS rarely meet reality. It is a lesson the South Africa Under-19 side are struggling with. They headed into the ICC Under-19 World Cup as the much-heralded defending champions waiting to be crowned again – the legacy of their predecessors, who so gloriously won the trophy in 2014.
But they were relegated to the Plate Championship after the shock loss against Namibia, and even here they weren’t able to flourish.
Yesterday at the Sheikh Kamal International Stadium in Cox’s Bazar, they were comprehensively outclassed by their significantly less-glamorous neighbours – Zimbabwe Under-19. It was South Africa’s first major challenge since the Namibia loss – the two intervening wins came against Associate sides – and they crumbled at the first hurdle. They were bundled out for a paltry 91 and Zimbabwe sealed their berth in the ninth-place playoff with an eight-wicket victory.
South Africa were left licking their wounds, knowing they could yet finish as low as 12th and will meet the vanquished side after Afghanistan and New Zealand clash on today.
Zimbabwe didn’t just coast to victory, but South Africa’s travails reached such dangerous depths that it was a challenge for Zimbabwe to keep their wits about them. South Africa were taunted and teased, their interest in the match reduced to a formality. Richard Ngarava, who was Mankaded in the match against West Indies, was a wicket machine, a blurry figure in red that traumatised South Africa.
He returned a brilliant four for 10 in nine overs, leading the attack to instigate the collapse. Then, chasing just 92, Zimbabwe were more than comfortable, getting to the mark in 22 overs, with Ryan Murray (26 not out) and Jeremy Ives (34 not out) putting on an unbroken 52.
The early overs were always going to be decisive and South Africa would have ideally wanted to see the first 10 overs through till the sun came out, but they were already four down by that stage. And it wasn’t just the Zimbabwe bowlers who prompted that, but the whole unit. They were excellent and excited in the field, edging each other on, diving that extra bit to get to the ball. A good piece of fielding was celebrated almost as though it was a wicket – there was much mutual appreciation.
Ngarava probed that nagging line outside offstump, varying the lengths as he pleased, and the batsmen were kept guessing. The rewards didn’t take long to come. Kyle Verreynne fell prey in the third over, poking at one to be caught behind for a duck. Liam Smith (6) did seem like he had a measure of things when he drove one through the covers, but a repeat attempt saw Kundai Matigimu take a magnificent one-handed catch on the dive. In the next over, Wiaan Mulder (2) was trapped in front by William Mashinge, and two overs later, Dayyan Galiem (1) was caught behind going for another drive. South Africa were 12 for 4.
At long last, Rivaldo Moonsamy and Tony de Zorzi put on 29 for the fifth wicket. Moonsammy, agile and nimble-footed, found it easier to score than his teammates. He flicked a couple that ended up at the ropes, even as de Zorzi dead-batted. For a while, they resisted, even though they didn’t always look comfortable. Their stand lasted nearly 10 overs, but it needed to last longer. A short ball from Matigimu caught de Zorzi (7) by surprise, and he only succeeded in fending off to short leg.
It was more of the same thereafter. Farhaan Sayanvala (2) didn’t last long, and disappointingly, Moonsamy needlessly threw away his wicket, dancing down the tracks to Rugare Magarira to be stumped. He had scored a 46-ball 32, but being the only player in the team to have played first-class cricket, he needed to have shown more composure. Wickets then continued to fall till Luke Philander and Sean Whitehead associated for the ninth wicket, rotating the strike and ticking off the runs to add 29.
It was routine for Zimbabwe, thereafter. They did lose Shaun Snyder after he had put on 30 for the opening wicket with Brendan Sly, who followed suit three overs later. But Murray and Ives dug in deep initially, saw off the pressure, and then kept the scoreboard moving to complete a comprehensive, hugely deserved victory. – Wisden India
Online Reporter