Convincing win for SA over Kenya
SOUTH Africa made an emphatic statement by clinching a 169-run victory over Kenya in their opening match of the ICC U19 World Cup at Lincoln Green Oval, in Christchurch, yesterday.
Captain Raynard van Tonder led from the front, smashing 143 runs from 121 deliveries as they posted a daunting 341 for seven after winning the toss and electing to bat.
Van Tonder’s knock included 14 fours and five sixes.
The innings was disturbed briefly when the youngsters lost Matthew Breetzke to the Kenyan skipper, Sachin Bhudia, for seven at the end of the third over.
But his opening partner Jiveshen Pillay (62 off 67) soldiered on, sharing a 125-run, third-wicket stand with Van Tonder, setting their side on course for a big score.
Another highlight of the South African batting innings was a 65-run burst that came from tail-enders Gerald Coetzee and Jade de Klerk. The former smashed a sensational 14-ball 36 with the latter adding his own impressive 28 from 23 deliveries.
Kenya managed 172/7 in their reply. Their top scorer was No 7 batsman Jasraj Kundi who hit 41 runs from 53 balls (five fours), while No 8 Ankit Hirani returned unbeaten for 35 (58 balls, two fours).
Everyone else could not surpass Bhudia’s 19 off 32.
Akhona Mnyaka and Kenan Smith (2/36) both took two wickets. Mnyaka was the pick of the bowlers with 2/9 in four overs, including a maiden.
An area South Africa will look to address will be the 18 runs in extras conceded.
Van Tonder was named Man of the Match.
The next World Cup Group A fixture for South Africa is on Wednesday when they take on defending champions West Indies in Tauranga.