A brilliant run chase which saw swift half-centuries from Steve Stolk and Dewan Marais confirmed South Africa U19’s spot in the super sixes by topping Group B.
It was an important match for South Africa U19 in their final game of the group stages. The top 3 qualify for the Super Sixes, and a victory against Scotland would take them top of the log.
An improved run rate would also confirm their spot in the Super Sixes.
The wicket seemed like a batting surface once you get yourself in, and Scotland proved this as SA struggled to get regular wickets in the first 40 overs.
However, they made it difficult for Scotland to score freely, reducing them to 200-3 in 42 overs.
Wickets flowed thereafter. For the next 69 runs, they lost 6 wickets, with two run-outs in the mix as well.
Riley Norton was the best bowler for SA U19 with 3-48.
With a target of 270, it was absolute carnage in the chase.
It started with a 37-ball 86 from Steve Stolk who hit 8 sixes and 7 fours at a strike rate of 232.43 taking his team to 134-1 in 10.4 overs before losing his wicket. He was absolutely ruthless in his approach. It was sensational to watch as he was not phased by the loss of his opening partner Lhuan-dre Pretorius.
Chasing the run rate target, SA boldly moved Tristan Luus up the order, but it never paid off as they were knocked back to 151-3 after 13.5 overs.
What followed was a spectacular partnership between Dewan Marais and David Teeger, set up by brilliant running between the wickets and ruthless boundary-hitting.
The pair hit 122 off 79 balls. Marais hit 80 off 50 balls (8 fours, 3 sixes) and Teeger hit 43 off 38 balls (6 fours) as they chased down their target in 27 overs.
The 10.11 run rate was the highest ever in a chase of a target above 200 in a U19 match.
The victory took South Africa to 1st in Group B and into the Super Sixes.
