ASHLEY DUBE
Zimbabwe U19 got their first win of the ICC Men’s U19 World Cup at the Kimberley Oval in South Africa on Saturday after defeating Namibia by eight wickets, and securing their place in the next round of the tournament This remarkable feat marks the first time in 18 years that Zimbabwe has advanced to the next stage.
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| Image: ICC/Getty Images |
The Group C encounter presented both teams with a winner-takes-all situation. Neither side had secured a victory in the initial matches and had faced dismissals for less than three figures.
Zimbabwe, having won the toss, elected to bowl first, aiming to establish dominance and put Namibia on the back foot.
The Zimbabwean squad displayed a commendable bowling performance, led by the outstanding efforts of Newman Nyamhuri, who claimed four wickets for 21 runs, and Ryan Simbi, who delivered an impressive performance with three crucial wickets.
These efforts significantly contributed to Zimbabwe’s objective of containing the opposition.
Namibia encountered significant struggles throughout their innings, finding it difficult to maintain a steady momentum and scoring only a meager equivalent of 37 overs of dot balls.
While Hanro Badenhorst’s resilient unbeaten 39 offered a glimmer of hope, Zimbabwe’s bowling prowess kept Namibia in check.
Despite a noteworthy ninth-wicket partnership that boosted Namibia’s total from 100 for 8 to a final score of 146, the nation’s resolve was not enough to deter the determined Zimbabwean squad.
In response, Zimbabwe’s batting excellence in the game shone through, led by Ryan Kamwemba’s aggressive 16 runs before he fell victim to a devastating in-swinging yorker from Jack Brassel.
The partnership between Panashe Taruvinga and Brandon Sunguro altered the course of the game, amassing an impressive 101 runs. Sunguro, initially brisk, contributed a vital 29 off 72 without taking undue risks.
However, his departure after being bowled, followed by a resilient performance from Taruvinga, steered Zimbabwe to a sensational victory. Taruvinga played a watchful innings, concluding with an outstanding 59 runs, ultimately securing the win with a boundary.
Campbell Macmillan’s quickfire 10 runs added to the team's total, further solidifying the comprehensive victory for the Zimbabwe Under-19 team.
Looking ahead, Zimbabwe now sets its sights on the Super Six, where they face formidable opponents in South Africa, West Indies, and England.
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