Kuala Lumpur, Feb 18 (IANS) Indian colts face a tough task when they take on South Africa in the U-19 cricket World Cup in their Group B league match Tuesday.
South Africa beat West Indies by three wickets in a seesaw battle at Kinrara Oval Monday and their Tuesday’s showdown with India could decide the fate of the group.
India beat Papua New Guinea comprehensively in the opening fixture. So now both the Indians and South Africans are on one win from one match. The side that wins Tuesday is assured of progressing through to the Super League stage of the game.
The West Indies must now win their remaining two games in the group to progress to the Super League.
Set a modest target of 223, South Africa began the chase disastrously losing Pieter Malan lbw to Jason Dawes before a run had been scored.
Jon-Jon Smuts and Reeza Hendricks added 74 for the second wicket and coach Ray Jennings could breathe easy again.
Smuts (45) and Hendricks (36) gave their wickets away just when they looked set to close out the game. And although Johanthan Vandiar (34) and Mohammad Vallie (15) looked good, the wickets kept falling as West Indies’ leg-spinning captain Shamarh Brooks ripped through the middle order.
Rilee Rossouw was the saviour as he anchored the run-chase and saw the side home with an unbeaten knock of 58.
South Africa were tottering at 179-7, still 44 short of victory, when the momentum swung back their way. Man-of-the match Rossouw was calm and confident, knocking off the remaining runs with number nine Roy Adams contributing a crucial 26.
Earlier, captain Wayne Parnell (3-37) and Jacobus Pienaar (3-36) bowled well to restrict the West Indies to 222-8. Hard-hitting opener Kieran Powell (53) and later Devon Thomas (53) were the chief run-getters for the West Indies.
Elsewhere, at Johor Cricket Academy, New Zealand managed 221-8 against Zimbabwe with Corey Anderson scoring 82. In reply, Zimbabwe crumbled and were all out for 123 thanks to a fine spell from Tim Southee (5-11). Only Daniel Landman (51) provided any real resistance to the New Zealand attack.
At Penang Sports Club, Sri Lanka were made to work hard for victory over Nepal. A crucial 62 from Sachith Pathirana helped Sri Lanka post 236-9 with Amrit Bhattarai taking 4-42 for the Nepal boys. The Sri Lanka bowling, led by Pathirana (3-31), gradually gained control during the Nepal innings.
At Bayuemas, a fine innings from Nasir Hossain set up a comfortable 178-run victory for Bangladesh over Bermuda.