By Neil Manthorp.
@GalloImages.
A fine, counter-attacking seventh-wicket stand of 131 between Dewan Marais and captain Juan James saw South African Under-19s recover from 145 for six to reach a competitive total of 285 for nine in their Under-19 World Cup opening match against the West Indies at the JB Marks Oval in Potchefstroom on Friday.
A slow, awkward batting pitch offering plentiful turn for the spinners made run-scoring difficult and when the home side lost three wickets in five balls without scoring a run to slip from 145 for three to 145 for six it seemed they might not reach 200.
Opener Lhuan-dre Pretorius made light work of the conditions with 40 from just 34 balls (6×4, 1×6) before the impressive left-arm spinner, Nathan Sealy, (10-2-34-3) bowled him between bat and pad.
Fellow Opener Steve Stolk (5) top-edged a pull to cover and Richard Seletswane (16) was run out by a direct hit from cover by the athletic Tarrique Edward.
David Teeger adopted defence as his primary approach in stabilising the innings from 97 for three to 145 for three in the company of Oliver Whitehead. Teeger crawled to 44 from 98 balls before Sealy had him smartly stumped by ‘keeper Jewel Andrew, and Whitehead’s 26 from 35 balls ended with a pull to deep midwicket.
Romashan Pillay edged his second ball from Sealy to slip and the West Indies appeared to be in control of the innings. But Marais was undaunted by the collapse and played with complete freedom, smashing four fours and four sixes in a glorious, fightback innings of 65 from only 38 balls before being caught on the deep midwicket boundary in the final over.
James was initially happy to play a junior role as Marais starred but soon picked up the tempo to reach 47 from 54 balls with three fours and a pulled six before being run out, also in the final over. Riley Norton (2), who played SA Schools rugby and cricket in the same year, became the third man dismissed in the final over but the host nation will be extremely satisfied with their work at the halfway stage of the match.
South Africa: Lhuan-dre Pretorius(w), Steve Stolk, David Teeger, Richard Seletswane, Oliver Whitehead, Dewan Marais, Romashan Pillay, Juan James(c), Riley Norton, Kwena Maphaka, Martin Khumalo.
West Indies: Stephan Pascal(c), Adrian Weir, Joshua Dorne, Jordan Johnson, Steve Wedderburn, Jewel Andrew(w), Nathan Sealy, Tarrique Edward, Isai Thorne, Nathan Edwards, Deshawn James.