The South African under-19 side managed to persevere just enough to beat Western Province by one wicket in their opening one-day cup match in Kimberley today.
It was a game for the bowlers, as a total of 19 wickets fell on the day for just 261 runs. WP batted first and laboured to a meagre score of 131 all out in the 37th over.
Opener Jack Newby was the only batter of note for WP, having scored a 61-ball 51, including five fours, before getting caught behind from Ethan Cunningham’s delivery.
The rest of the line-up struggled to get any real ascendency as no threatening partnerships were strung together.
Andre Malan, sparked some hope in the middle-order – scoring a 26-ball 20 – but was found wanting when he was dismissed by an LBW from Caleb Seleka.
In the ensuing overs, WP tended to crumble on what seemed to be a tricky wicket to bat on. The SA U19s took full advantage of this, with both Seleka and Liam Alder earning four-wicket hauls – a combined effort that took out almost the whole WP order.
Alder took 4/16 and accumulated the best economy-rate of the day of 2.23, with Seleka taking 4/33.
In response, the SA U19s almost looked overwhelmed by the prospect of playing against semi-professionals and seasoned campaigners.
They looked to be on a similar trajectory to that of WP at the start of the innings, losing their first three wickets inside the opening five overs for less than 20 runs.
The side managed to preserve their wickets more sparing thereafter, which defined their match-winning innings.
Their comparable run-rate was lower than WP for its whole duration, which meant their only chance for a victory was to utilize the excess overs at their disposal towards the end.
They did just that, reaching their target in the 39th over. The SA U19s struggled to get momentum at the start, but George van Heerden and Michael Copeland built up a patient partnership to get the side on-track.
Van Heerden scored a careful 42-ball 21 and Copeland put together a styling 68-ball 47, including seven fours. Both Van Heerden and Copeland were picked off by pace bowler Lehan Botha.
Kaden Solomon scored a steady 42-ball 16 to continue Van Heerden’s exploits with Copeland, before being sent walking from an LBW by Diego du Plessis.
Spinner Yves Kamanzi was much responsible for the SA U19s stalling run-rate, having taken 4/27 at a rate of 2.70 in his 10 allotted overs, with Botha contributing well with his figures of 3/26 at 3.25.
However, it was the SA U19 tail-enders, Joshua Stevenson and Seleka, who got the SA U19s across the line in agonising fashion.
