Afg, NZ, SA qualify for Super League

Tauranga, January 17 

A scintillating double-century stand between New Zealand openers Jakob Bhula and Rachin Ravindra lit up the Hagley Oval as several records were broken during the match against Kenya, which the hosts won by 243 runs in the ICC U-19 World Cup here today. Bhula’s astounding innings of 180 is the highest individual score in the history of U-19 ODIs, while his 245- run first wicket partnership with Ravindra (117) is the best-ever opening stand in the tournament.

The opening wicket partnership set the tone for more onslaught as Finn Allen joined the party with a belligerent 90 that resulted in New Zealand notching a mammoth 436/4, the second highest total in the U-19 Cricket World Cup.

In another match, Wandile Makwetu scored an unbeaten run-a-ball 99 and fast bowler Hermann Rolfes took four wickets to help South Africa beat defending champion West Indies by 76 runs.

Following today’s results, New Zealand and South Africa have progressed to the Super League, while West Indies and Kenya will now feature in the Plate Championship.

Elsewhere, Afghanistan defeated Sri Lanka by 32 runs to become the first side to qualify for the Super League from Group D. This result means the winner of Sri Lanka and Pakistan match on Friday will become the second side to progress to the knockouts from Group D.

In the fourth and last match of the day, Australia coasted to a comfortable seven wickets victory over Zimbabwe to notch up their first win in Pool B. On Friday, Australia will take on Papua New Guinea and India will meet Zimbabwe. — PTI

Spirit in question: There was a controversy in the U-19 World Cup when West Indies captain Emmanuel Stewart  appealed against South Africa opener Jiveshan Pillay for obstructing the field after Pillay picked up the ball close to the off stump, even though it was stationary. Later, Stewart said: “He was given out within the laws of the game. On reflection, I thought our appeal wasn’t in the spirit of the game. Moving forward, if I’m in such a situation, I’d withdraw the decision to go upstairs. My teammates share the same sentiments.”

U-19 world cup

BRIEF SCORES 

• South Africa : 282/ 8 (Makwetu 99, Pillay 47; Rolfes 4/33); West Indies 206 (Athanaze 76, Kallicharan 44) 
• Afghanistan: 284/7 (Zadran 86, Ikram 55, Rasooli 63); Sri Lanka: 202 (Daniel 48; Naveen-ul-Haq 4/35) 
• Zimbabwe: 134 (Bartlett 3/20) ; Australia: 135/3 (Bryant 44) 
• NZ 436/4 (Bhula 180, Ravindra 117, Allen 90); Kenya 193/4 (Gandhi 63; Ravindra 2/33)