Patel sets up Zambian win

Zambian medium pacer Safraz Patel took the heart out of the Nigerian middle order with a man of the match spell of 4/12 off 10 overs on the opening day of the ICC Africa/EAP U19 World Cup Qualifier played at Willowmoore Park in Benoni, South Africa today. Nigeria batted first and were dismissed for 86 in 36.2 overs with quick Liuwa Liuwa lending support with 3 wickets. Nigerian captain Onikoyi Ademola provided the only real batting resistance top scoring with 32.

In reply, 3 wickets in 3 overs from off spinner Awolowo Lekan sent the Zambian hearts fluttering but it was a case of too little too late as the required runs were achieved in 28.4 overs. Andrew Toms provided the mainstay of the Zambian innings with 37.

In the other game finished early, Uganda made short work of Tanzania dismissing them for 75 and losing only 2 wickets in achieving the target in 23.5 overs. Daniel Ruyange captured 3/15 off 10 quick overs and Ronald Semanda completed a fine game snaring 2/4 off 6 miserly overs and hitting the winning runs in scoring 34 not out.

On the A Field Namibia recovered from being 5/134 to amass 8/244 in 50 overs against Fiji. Dawid Botha top scored with 47 and Jason Bandlow smashed 42 off 51 balls late in the innings. Fiji were still in the mix at 4/115 after 20 overs after Josefa Rika followed his four catches with a run a ball 32 opening the innings and Fiji Captain Sekove Revoka (42) providing the backbone. After big hitting Kitiano Tavo was stumped for 21, the Fiji innings got the staggers and never recovered. They were eventually bowled out for 140 in the 40th over. Left arm orthodox spinner LP Van der Westhuizen was the main destroyer snaring 3/10 off 5.1 overs. Left arm wrist spinner Nicholas Scholtz (3/26) and medium pacer Henno Prinsloo (3/35) ensured Fiji were not able to get a stranglehold on the game.

Due to the late arrival of the Papua New Guinea team their clash against Kenya will be played on the rest day on Wednesday 24 August.

Round 2 will be played tomorrow with PNG debuting against the impressive Zambia and Kenya take on Nigeria in Pool A with Fiji confronting Uganda and Namibia facing Tanzania in Pool B.