SA juniors target semifinal berth

The South African Under-19 side will be targeting a place in the semifinals of the U-19 World Cup when they take on Sri Lanka U19 in their final match of the Super Six phase at the JB Marks Oval in Potchefstroom today (10am start).

With two Super Six groups the top two teams from each will progress to the semifinals, and the hosts currently occupy the second position in Super Six group two on four points, behind Australia U19s on six.

The SA U19s are level on points with the West Indies U19s, but with the Caribbean side up against the Aussies in their final Super Six match, a win for SA should see them into the knockouts.

However a loss against Sri Lanka could lead to a hugely congested log with four teams, including England U19s, who face Zimbabwe U19s in their last Super Six match, locked on four points needing net run rate to decide who makes it into the semis.

Super Six group one is currently topped by India U19s on net run rate, over Pakistan U19s, with both sides on six points and with India up against Nepal U19s and Pakistan taking on Bangladesh U19s, both should cruise into the semifinals.

The SA U19 side heads into the clash against Sri Lanka in good form, coming off two powerful wins against Scotland U19s and Zimbabwe.

They chased down a tricky score of 270 against Scotland in just 27 overs for a big seven wicket win, and then bowled Zimbabwe out for 102 runs and chased that down within 14 overs for the loss of just one wicket.

Kwena Maphaka, who is ranked joint top of the wicket taking charts, and Steve Stolk, ninth on the batting log, were the stars of those games and they will likely be called upon to produce against Sri Lanka.