By CS Chiwanza.
Kwena Maphaka bagged his second five-wicket haul of the 2024 Under-19 World Cup as he helped South Africa Under-19 restrict Zimbabwe Under-19 to a total of 102 in their Group 2 Super Six match at the JB Marks Oval on Wednesday. South Africa needs 103 runs in 50 overs to win.
The 17-year-old Lions sensation sent down 10 overs and claimed five for 34 to help South Africa blow away the visitors for just over 100 runs in 29.2 overs. He now has taken the joint-most five-wicket hauls in Youth ODI history with three. Maphaka is also now third on South Africa’s all-time wicket-takers list in Under-19 cricket.
Zimbabwe found themselves in a world of trouble almost as soon as their innings began. Kwena Maphaka’s brilliant first over was backed up by five pitch-perfect deliveries by Raeeq Daniels in the second over of the match. The opening bowlers applied enough pressure to force Zimbabwe’s opening pair of Nathaniel Hlabangana and Panashe Taruvinga to attempt a risky single to relieve the pressure. The result was a Romashan Pillay-executed run-out that left them at five runs for one wicket after 1.5 overs.
The next three overs were trial by fire for the visitors as Maphaka bagged three wickets for seven runs in his next two overs. The left-arm pacer delivered two unplayable deliveries that rattled the stumps and lured Brandon Sunguro into a shot that offered a comfortable catch to Dewan Marais at backward point.
Ronak Patel (32) and Ryan Kamwemba (24) gave new life to Zimbabwe’s innings. They saw Zimbabwe through the Powerplay without further damage and were cruising at around six runs an over. The duo put together a 53-run fifth-wicket partnership that threatened to take the game away from South Africa. But, just as they were looking comfortable, Juan James, the South Africa captain, brought in his change bowlers and the complexion of the match changed.
Riley Norton and Tristan Luus pegged back Zimbabwe’s batters, conceding 13 runs in their first four overs as a bowling pair. The result was three wickets in consecutive overs and the visitors looked like they would not get to the 100-run mark. The visitors held on to reach the milestone but did not add much afterwards. Besides Patel and Kamwemba, Mashford Shungu (17) was the only other Zimbabwean batter to score more than 10 runs.
Maphaka was supported by Tristan Luus, who took three wickets in 7.2 overs, and Riley Norton, who was miserly, taking a single wicket for seven runs in five overs.
South Africa U19: Lhuan-dre Pretorius (wk), Steve Stolk, David Teeger, Richard Seletswane, Dewan Marais, Juan James (c), Romashan Pillay, Riley Norton, Tristan Luus, Raeeq Daniels, Kwena Maphaka.
Zimbabwe U19: Nathaniel Hlabangana, Panashe Taruvinga, Brandon Sunguro, Ronak Patel, Campbell Macmillan, Ryan Kamwemba (wk), Matthew Schonken (c), Newman Nyamhuri, Mashford Shungu, Anesu Kamuriwo, Ryan Simbi.