U19 World Cup 2018, Day 9: Round-up

The Group stage of the ICC U19 World Cup 2018 has been done and dusted and two top teams from each of the four groups have qualified for the Quarter-Finals of the Super League. However, all is not lost for the eliminated teams as they fight in the Plate Group. The ninth day of the tournament saw a couple of day-games being played at Lincoln.

Namibia and Zimbabwe faced each other in the Quarter-Final of the ninth-place Play-offs. The game ended in a one-sided affair as Zimbabwe thrashed the Namibians by seven wickets. Meanwhile, Namibia’s win-less streak in the tournament continued as they lost their fourth consecutive game after Namibia won the toss and opted to bat first.

The decision backfired as their batsmen failed to get going as the Zimbabwean bowlers dominated throughout. They could only muster 113 runs in 40 overs as their batting line capsized without posing any threat to the Zimbabwe bowlers. While Eben van Wyk top-scored for Namibia with 24 runs, Nkosilathi Nungu, Dion Myers and Wesley Madhevere picked up a couple of wickets each.

Chasing 114 runs, Zimbabwe lost a couple of early wickets of Gregory Dollar and Dion Myers. However, Wesley Madhevere and Alistair Frost’s 72-run stand resurrected the start and got Zimbabwe close. Tinashe Nenhunzi played a breezy knock of 23 runs off 14 balls, which guided Zimbabwe to the victory.

PNG thumped by Canada

Meanwhile, Canada and Papua New Guinea clashed in the second ninth-place Quarter-Final of the day at Lincoln. PNG won the toss and elected to field first.  They lost four wickets for 82 runs within the first 17 overs. Nevertheless, Akash Gill and Ashtan Deosammy’s stand of 104 runs off 125 balls brought Canada back into the game.

Akash Gill eventually managed to score 120 runs off 115 balls and Canada ended their innings with the score reading 265/8 in 50 overs. Papua New Guinea commenced their run-chase with an impressive opening-wicket stand of 68 runs off 84 balls between Simon Atai and Igo Mahuru. However, they lost a couple of quick wickets.

Ovia Sam joined Atai at the crease and both stitched together a partnership of 47 runs. Nevertheless, Sam was dismissed in the 35th over and Canada’s innings went downhill thereafter. Atai eventually perished for a well-compiled 81 runs in the 39th over and Canada’s hopes of a comeback faded with his departure. PNG eventually managed 185 runs and slumped to a defeat by 80 runs.

From Canada’s perspective, Faisal Jamkhandi and Aran Pathmanathan picked up three wickets each. Quite deservingly, Akash Gill bagged the Player of the Match award for his stupendous century.

Brief Scores

Zimbabwe v Namibia, 9th place Play-off Quarter-Final, Lincoln

Namibia: 113 all out in 40.1 overs; Eben van Wyk 24, Gerhard Lottering 19; Wesley Madhevere 2/11, Nkosilathi Nungu 2/11

Zimbabwe: 114/3 in 19.3 overs; Wesley Madhevere 47, Alistair Frost 30; Gerhard Lottering 1/19, Ben Shikongo 1/22

Zimbabwe beat Namibia by seven wickets

Man of the Match: Wesley Madhevere

Canada v Papua New Guinea, 9th place Play-off Quarter-Final, Lincoln

Canada: 265/8 in 50 overs; Akash Gill 120, Ashtan Deosammy 35; James Tau 2/37, Leke Morea 2/69

Papua New Guinea: 185 all out in 44.3 overs; Simon Atai 81, Ovia Sam 23; Aran Pathmanathan 3/23, Faisal Jamkhandi 3/48

Canada beat Papua New Guinea by 80 runs

Man of the Match: Akash Gill