Visakhapatnam, Sept 29:In another match South Africa Under-19s got closer to sealing berth in final in the Quadrangular Under-19 Series by chasing down Australia Under-19s’ 134 with five wickets and more than 15 overs to spare against Australia in the Dr YSR Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stdium here today.
South Africa now have 12 points, four behind India who qualified by beating Zimbabwe, and need one more win to progress to the final. Australia, on the other hand, have only one win so far and need to win both their remaining matches to have any chances of spoiling South Africa’s prospects.
Australia’s decision of batting first proved faulty as they lost their first two wickets to fast bowler Kagiso Rabada within seven overs. Sean Willis got brief support from Jake Doran and Matthew Kelly, who scored in double digits, but was the lone fighter. His innings of 51 took them close to 100 while their middle order was rocked by offspinner Yaseen Valli who took four consecutive wickets, reducing Australia to 97 for seven after he dismissed Willis and Cameron Valente off successive deliveries.
Kelvin Smith and Tom Andrews took them to 120 but they were soon all out for 134 when Valli took the last wicket to finish with five for 27.
South Africa were not troubled much as opener Clyde Fortuin (38) and Jason Smith (41*) took them to a comfortable position. They lost two quick wickets within seven balls a little later but Smith and Valli took them home in the 35th over. (UNI)
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