PORT OF SPAIN - South Africa’s Dewald Brevis and England’s Tom Prest played captain’s innings to propel their sides to victory at the ICC Under 19 Men’s Cricket World Cup.
‘BABY AB’ PUTS ON A SHOW
Having elected to make first use of the Queen’s Park Oval pitch, the young Proteas stuttered and lost openers Ethan-John Cunningham (1) and Valintine Kitime (12) quickly that brought Brevis to the crease, with the starlet nicknamed ‘Baby AB’ playing key role in his team’s triumph. he brought up a superb century from 108 balls and lifted his side above 200. South Africa lost their last five wickets for 24 runs, thanks to seamers Juma Miyagi (3-33) and Pascal Murungi (3-58).
Uganda also found the powerplay overs tough going and left-armer Aphiwe Mnyanda turned the screw early on, castling Ronald Omara in the second over. Mutagana and Isaac Ategeka steadied the ship and got to 33-1 before the former nicked off to Solomon to give Mnyanda another. Uganda then subsided to 110 all out, losing their last five wickets for 24 runs. Brevis was the undisputed star of the show with bat and ball, also chipping in with 2-18.
ENGLAND SHOW OFF BATTING FIREPOWER
England only needed to chase down 98 to win their opening game against Bangladesh but could flex their batting muscles when inserted by Canada at Warner Park. George Thomas and captain Tom Prest batted with authority and helped England end the powerplay at 48-1. Prest brought up his half-century in 58 balls but lost Thomas midway through the innings when he bowled for 52 at 116-2. He was ably supported by James Rew (33) and when the skipper was trapped in front for a run-a-ball 93, the momentum was maintained by William Luxton and George Bell. The buccaneering pair gathered eye-catching 57 off 35 balls that took England to 320-7 from 50 overs.
England got rid of Canada opener Siddh Lad (5) in the fifth over but were met with firm resistance in the form of a second-wicket stand worth 60. Anook Chima made a measured 38 from 65 balls and Yasir Mahmood (25) joined him at the crease for a productive 10 overs. Skipper Prest got rid of Mahmood and then four wickets fell for 35 runs as the Canadian run chase floundered. England were defied by Gurnek Singh while Ethan Gibson also played a range of attacking shots in a seventh-wicket stand worth 74. But Josh Boyden took snaffled three of the last four wickets to fall to tear 4-44, his second four-wicket hall in as many games. Canada were only bowled out in the penultimate over, for 214.
AFGHANISTAN EXCEL WITH
BAT AND BALL
Afghanistan made a steady start but were rocked by shedding three wickets in four overs inside the powerplay. Mohammad Ishaq (21) was brilliantly caught by Peter Karoho, Bilal Sayedi (12) was comprehensively bowled and Allah Noor (2) flicked to a fielder as they sank to 40-3. Captain Suliman Safi and Ijaz Ahmadzai took the game away from PNG with a partnership of 105.