Cape Town – Pakistan claimed an 88-run
victory in the fourth Youth One-Day International (ODI) against the
South Africa Under-19s despite half-centuries from Ruan Terblanche and Jonathan
Bird in Pietermaritzburg on Sunday.
The touring side took an
unassailable four-nil lead in the seven-match series following four wins on the
bounce.
The sub-continent outfit
posted a commanding 341/8 in batting-friendly conditions, with Rohail Nazir
top-scoring with 89 off 91 balls (11 fours) before Bird (75 off 75 balls, 10
fours, 2 sixes) and Terblanche (53 off 65 balls, 7 fours) contributed in vain,
towards South Africa’s reply of 253 all out in 43.3 overs.
Naseem Shah (4/52) and Aamir
Ali (4/44) were the pick of the bowlers for Pakistan en route to victory.
After winning the toss and
electing to set a score, Pakistan got off to another flyer with the bat. The
opener, Haider Ali, smashed a quick-fire 59 off 41 deliveries (12 fours) in two
half-century partnerships with Fahad Munir (56) and Nazir. After Ali was dismissed,
Nazir took on the run-scoring mantle alongside Haris Khan (62), with the pair
both reaching their half-tons.
Although the home side fought
back during the last ten overs, thanks in main to crucial wickets from Imraan
Philander (3/52) to leave Pakistan on 279/5 after 44 overs, Khan and Abbas
Afridi helped carry their side to well over the 300-run mark. The latter scored
an unbeaten 30 off 19 balls to push the tourists to near 350.
Faced with an uphill battle
of 342 for victory and a way back into the series, South Africa made a solid
start after a 116-run partnership for the second wicket between Bird and
Terblanche. The pair looked dominant at the crease, with Bird dispatching the
ball to all parts of the ground before another middle-order collapse hindered
the hosts’ chase.
The left-arm spinner, Ali
made regular inroads, taking four scalps while Shah delivered effective yorkers
to continue picking up wickets despite Bryce Parsons’ valiant 39 off 20 (5
fours, 2 sixes).
Lifa Ntanzi (9) was the last
wicket to fall as Pakistan got over the line with 6.3 overs to spare.
With the series now decided,
the fifth Youth ODI takes place on Tuesday, July 2 at the City Oval in
Pietermaritzburg from 09:00.
Regular updates available through Cricket South
Africa’s platforms on Facebook (www.facebook.com/cricketsouthafrica)
and Twitter (www.twitter.com/officialcsa).
South Africa Under-19
squad:
Bryce Parsons (captain,
Gauteng), Luke Beaufort (Eastern Province), Jonathan Bird (Western Province),
Achille Cloete (Boland), Gerald Coetzee (Free State), Khanya Cotani (North
West), Micheal Copeland (Gauteng), Andrew Louw (Free State), Pheko Moletsane
(Free State), Lifa Ntanzi (KZN Coastal), Imraan Philander (Western Province),
Siya Plaatjie (Western Province), Ruan Terblanche (Boland), Tiaan van Vuuren
(Eastern Province), Nonelela Yikha (Border)
