ZIMBABWE U19 Cricket team crashed to a nine-wicket defeat to hosts South Africa in their first match of the Super Six stage to put paid any hopes of progressing to the semifinals of the ongoing ICC Men's Cricket World Cup in Potchefstroom yesterday.
Batting was once again the team's Achilles heel after Zimbabwe captain, Matthew Schonken lost the toss and asked to bat first.
Not even the re-introduction of opener Nathaniel Hlabangana helped matters as he was run out in the second over for one run with Zimbabwe teetering on two runs.
Brandon Sunguro followed three deliveries later for a two-ball duck as he was bowled out by five-wicket hero Kwena Maphaka after 2.2 overs with Zimbabwe staring down the barrel on 6/2.
It soon became worse for Zimbabwe following the dismissal of Campbell Macmillan, bowled by Maphaka for a three-ball zero in the same over. At 6/3 after 2.5 overs, Zimbabwe needed an exceptional innings rebuild to mount a defendable total, but the young Proteas kept chirping wickets off much to the detriment of the locals.
Opener Panashe Taruvinga was the fourth casualty, falling for three runs off eight balls with Maphaka again running riot with another bowled effort.
The scoreboard read 16/4 after 4.1 over with half century looking a distant. However, Ronak Patel with 32, Ryan Kamwemba (24), Mashford Shungu (17) and tailender Anesu Kamuriwo unbeaten on five ensured that Zimbabwe reached 102 all out in 29.2 overs.
South Africa was a bit wasteful on the field, giving away 17 extras that helped Zimbabwe go past 100 runs. Maphaka finishes with five wickets for 34 runs from 10 overs while Tristan Luus picked three for 25 in 7.2 overs.
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An easy chase started off on a blistering note with South Africa racing to 86 runs before Steve Stolk, the only casualty for the hosts was caught for 37 runs by Nyamhuri off Kamuriwo's bowling at the end of the first Powerplay. After 10.1 overs, South Africa found themselves ik the driving seat on 86/1. Fellow opener, Lhuan-dre Prestorius with an unbeaten 53 from 39 balls made up of nine boundaries and a six got his team over the line. He was joined by David Teeger with 10 not out as South Africa reached 103/1 inside 13.3 overs to win the match with 219 balls remaining.
Zimbabwe who qualified for the Super 6 staged as number three in Group C face England in their next match on Saturday.
