Bryce Parsons led from the front with his maiden Youth ODI ton supported by half centuries from Jonathan Bird and Tyrese Karelse to steer the Junior Proteas to a mammoth 349-8 in a crucial game before the bowlers secured the victory.

An all-round emphatic victory for the hosts as they bowled Canada out for 199 to clinch a 150-run win to keep their quarter final hopes alive.

With a middle order short of runs, the Junior Proteas had a uphill battle ahead of them with hopes of qualifying for the Super League quarterfinals after their devastating opening loss to Afghanistan. This group is by no means a walk in the park as UAE chased down Canada’s 231 in under 40 overs losing just 2 wickets in their opening match.

The skipper joined Jonathan Bird at the crease in the 7th over after the loss of the first wicket of Andrew Louw (6). The pair did the rescue job well and kept the scoreboard ticking swiftly and strung along 64 runs for the second wicket before Bird was dismissed for 54 which included 7 fours and 2 sixes. Parsons continued his destructions with Beaufort (31) holding things down at the other end. The duo registered back-to-back third wicket 50-run partnerships and put together 93 runs for the third wicket.

The skipper knew there was a monumental effort needed with the bat and he was up for the task and brought up a splendid 100 off 79 deliveries which included 12 fours and 2 sixes.

Partnerships were the order of the day, as Tiaan van Vuuren and Tyrese Karelse (60*) notched up a 57-run partnership for the 5th wicket to take SA past the 300-run mark.

Wicket-keeper batsman Khanya Cotani struck 5 fours between the 47th and 49th over as Tyrese Karelse brought up his half century and remained unbeaten to guide SA to 349/8

Canada picked wickets at crucial stages but the SA batsman kept the run rate up at all times.

Chasing a gigantic 350 for victory Achille Cloete struck early whilst Merrick Brett (2/19) bowled a brilliant spell upfront picking up two wickets for 2 runs in his first 3 overs.

Canada kept up with the required asking rate until the spin duo of Bryce Parsons (1/36) and Jack Lees (2/39) struck crucial blows in the middle overs to keep them quiet and then it fell apart for the Canadians who were on the brink of their second defeat.

The wicket-keeping batsman, Benjamin Calitz was the lone fighter with wickets tumbling all around him and was stranded on (62*).

Canada and Afghanistan face off on Friday, 24th Jan and South Africa take on UAE on Saturday, 25th Jan to round up the final group D fixtures.

Photo: ICC