Maphaka takes five as South Africa crush Zimbabwe
Left-arm quick Kwena Maphaka picked up 5 for 34, including three of the top four batters, as South Africa crushed Zimbabwe in the Super Sixes of the Under-19 World Cup. Maphaka’s spell helped bundle Zimbabwe out for 102, with the hosts’ top order hunting down the target in less than 14 overs.
Zimbabwe were reduced to 16 for 4 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. That is when Ronal Patel and Ryan Kamwemba got down for a repair job with a half-century stand.
But right-arm quick Tristan Luus ensured that partnership didn’t last too long, as he started the 16th over by dismissing Ronak for a better-than-a-run-a-ball 32, which included five boundaries. Four balls later, Luus struck again to get the opposition captain Matthew Schonken for a duck. That started another slide for Zimbabwe, who lost 6 for 33 in a middle and lower-order collapse.
Maphaka returned to nab two lower-order wickets, as he and Luus wrapped the tail up.
South Africa’s chase got off to a flyer, with openers Lhuan-dre Pretorious and Steve Stolk pumping boundaries regularly. The first four overs fetched 42, while the powerplay ended with 86 runs already getting knocked off. Next ball, Anesu Kamuriwo got Stolk for 37, but Pretorius continued in a hurry, getting to his fifty off 38 balls to end the 12th over.
Come the 14th over, David Teeger hit the winning runs, as South Africa won with plenty to spare. The victory put South Africa at second place in Group 2, with the margin of victory giving their net run rate a massive boost.
Brief scores:
South Africa Under 19 103 for 1 in 13.3 overs (Lhuan-dre Pretorius 53*, Steve Stolk 37, Anesu Kamuriwo 1-31) beat Zimbabwe Under 19s 102 in 29.2 overs (Ronak Patel 32, Ryan Kamwemba 24; Kwena Maphaka 5-34, Tristan Luus 3-25) by nine wickets
(Cricinfo)
