ZIMBABWE roared back into contention in the Cricket South Africa (CSA) Youth Triangular One-Day International Series with a convincing five-wicket victory over hosts South Africa at Boland Park in Cape Town yesterday.
BY DANIEL NHAKANISO
Chasing a modest 163 for nine on a pitch that challenged the patience and technique of all batsmen, Zimbabwe led by half centuries from Ryan Murray (77) and Jayden Schadendorf (50) to comfortably reach 167 for five with 37 balls to spare.
It was Zimbabwe’s first win in their third attempt in the tri-nation series, which also involves Sri Lanka.
After deciding to bowl first, Zimbabwe restricted their South African counterparts to a paltry 163 for nine in their allotted 50 overs courtesy of 16-year-old left-arm spinner Declan Oldreive’s superb return of four wickets for 34 runs in his 10 overs.
Offspinner, Wesley Madhevere (1/15) provided good support, while Liam Roche, Jonathan Connolly and Kieran Robinson also took one each to wrap up a solid bowling effort by the touring side.
Zimbabwe’s run chase got off to a shaky start after losing the wicket of opener, Tanunurwa Makoni for a six-ball duck in the first over.
However, the Stephen Mangongo-coached side recovered well to stitch important partnerships for the second and third wickets to resurrect the innings.
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Schadendorf, who has been in brilliant form, shared a 41-run partnership stand with Gregory Dollar (12) for the second wicket before the latter was trapped lbw by Michael Cohen in the 12th over.
Zimbabwe had, however, set the platform as Schadendorf shared another match-winning partnership of 73 runs with Murray.
By the time Schadendorf was caught and off the bowling of Kenan Smith, in the last ball of the 33rd over, to become the third batsman to be dismissed, Zimbabwe, led by the free-scoring Murray, were already close to the victory target on 111 runs.
Though two wickets fell in quick succession after that, Murray held the innings together with his 108-ball 77, which included 15 fours to take Zimbabwe over the finish line.
Zimbabwe will play Sri Lanka their fourth match of the tri-series at the same venue, needing nothing short of victory to revive their hopes of reaching the final scheduled for next week on Saturday.
The youthful side, which recently played matches against Namibia, Malaysia and South African provincial sides, is using the ongoing Youth Triangular One-Day International Series to prepare for the 2018 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup to be hosted by New Zealand.
