KIMBERLEY CRICKET FINALE
DANIE VAN DER LITH DANIE.VANDERLITH@ACM.CO.ZA
TODAY is shaping up to be a big day for the City’s cricket fans as all eyes focus on the Kimberley Diamond Oval for the Under-19 Cricket World Cup Super Six clash, which kicks off at 10am.
In this Group 2 face-off, top of the table Australia goes headto-head against third-placed West Indies, with both teams eager for a shot at ultimate glory in the competition.
Australia will be stepping into the contest with a swagger, fresh from their dominating performance against England this past Wednesday at the same venue. The Down Under lads pulled off a stellar win, beating England Under-19 by 110 runs (DLS method).
The Australians set their opponents a healthy target of 267, after posting 266/6 in their 50 overs. Hugh Weibgein put in a Player of the Match performance with his blistering 120 off 126 balls, ably supported by opener Harry Dixon (53 off 63).
England never got going in their innings with only two of their batsmen, captain Ben Mckinney (22 off 10) and Charlie Allison (26 off 16), making starts; none of the other batters gave the scorers much trouble.
Callum Vidler 5/29 and Rafael Macmillan 3/16 were the thorn in the side of the England batting.
On the flip side, the West Indies are coming into the game with their heads held high after a hard-fought win over Sri Lanka on Tuesday. Chasing down Sri Lanka’s 231, the Caribbean team clinched a nail-biting victory by three wickets with just three balls to spare.
Steve Wedderburn led the charge for the West Indies with his gutsy 61 off 71 balls, with skipper Stephan Pascal (33) and Jordan Johnson (39) playing key roles.
Facing a must-win situation, the West Indies can't afford to ease up now. With South Africa, the team above them in their group, facing off against Zimbabwe in Potchefstroom at the same time, a loss for the Windies in Kimberley would certainly add some plot twists to their progress in the competition.
As the teams gear up for the showdown in Kimberley today, keeping an eye on the sky might not be a bad idea, as there's a chance of thunderstorms later in the day. However, the cooler, cloudy weather could play into the hands of the bowlers, as well as offering a bit of relief for the players in the outfield.
So, Kimberlites, get ready for an exciting day at the Kimberley Diamond Oval, where cricket passion will once again meet the thrill of competition! With both teams exhibiting top-notch form in the competition thus far, today’s clash promises a riveting display of skill and determination.