Published: Mar 01, 2014, 07:51 PM (IST)
Edited: Mar 01, 2014, 08:13 PM (IST)
By Nishad Pai Vaidya
Dubai: Mar 1, 2014
The South African drought for a world title has finally ended after 15 long years, albeit at the junior level. The boys have done the Rainbow Nation proud as the beat Pakistan by six wickets in the final of the ICC Under-19 World Cup 2014 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. This victory comes after 1998, the year South Africa had clinched the inaugural knockout.
There were a few nerves when South Africa began their chase. Consider the weight of history on these boys: the country has been yearning for a world title since 1998; they have lost the under-19 World Cup final twice in the past. Thus, when Aiden Markram and Clyde Fortuin walked out to bat, they commenced a mission to search for that elusive world glory.
The task wasn’t easy by any means. Pakistan had to go for it and did with some good attacking bowling early on. Fortuin lost his wicket early as he tried to pull one off Ammad Butt, only to see it spoon to cover. Jason Smith held on for a while and looked good with a few positive strokes, but was then dismissed leg-before by Karamat Ali. At that stage, South Africa were 28 for two in the 12th over.
Markram knew the pressure was on him and he found an ideal foil in Greg Oldfield. In tandem, they calmly dealt with the spinners. There were a few desperate appeals, Zafar Gohar even going down on his knees at one point, but most of them were going down the leg-side. As the overs progressed, Oldfield and Markram grew in confidence.
Markram was the man who used his feet, while Oldfield moved across to sweep it fine a few times. There was a big boundary drought, which ended after 54 balls when Oldfield chased one outside off and played an uppish stroke through square on the off-side. The fielder attempted the catch, but it bounced well short and went for four.
That broke the shackles and South Africa got home without too many problems thereafter.
Early in the day, Sami Aslam won the toss and chose to bat on a wicket that was said to aid the batsmen. South Africa strengthened their bowling for this challenge, bringing in Ngzibini Sigwili in place of Kirwin Christoffels.
The intent was clear early on as Aslam and Imam-ul-Haq were trying to see off a few deliveries off Kagiso Rabada. They were moving stably until Rabada had Imam caught behind. It was just the start of things to come. Once Rabada was out of the attack, Justin Dill and Corbin Bosch were in, two men who haven’t quite been in the limelight.
Bowling on a tight channel around the off-stump, they had Pakistani batsmen poking outside off. Most of them were tentative, while Saud Shakeel was the only one who tried to play an expansive stroke. With the barrage behind the stumps, Fortuin, the wicketkeeper managed to take six catches. Bosch finished with four scalps.
There was a fighting stand from Gohar and Butt, just like their spirited showing in the semi-final. However, it was just too much as Pakistan were batting first and had to set a total.
Brief scores:
Pakistan 131 in 44.3 overs (Amad Butt 37*, Zafar Gohar 22; Corbin Bosch 4 for 15, Justin 2 for 29) lost to South Africa in 43 overs (Aiden Markram 66*, Greg Oldfield 40; Karamat Ali 2 for 24) by six wickets.
Man of the match – Corbin Bosch.
Man of the tournament – Aiden Markram.
