Bulbulia guides SA u19 Emerging to victory
Muhammed Bulbulia scored a magnificent unbeaten half-century to lead South Africa u19 Emerging to a comprehensive eight-wicket win over Zimbabwe u19 Emerging in their 50-over contest at Queen’s Sports Club in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, on Friday.
The visitors bowled out Zimbabwe u19 Emerging for 161 in 41 overs after being asked to bowl first.
Set a moderate victory target, the Jason Rowles-captained side treated the run chase like a T20 as they romped to 162/2 in 23.1 overs.
Bulbulia, who expertly anchored the chase, carved seven fours and a single six in his 80-ball 67. The Fields College student was untroubled throughout his innings, and his composed knock allowed his batting partners to express themselves with the bat.
Rowles, who joined Bulbulia in the middle after Adnaan Lagadien’s early dismissal, was aggressive, cracking back-to-back boundaries off the first two deliveries he faced. After that show of intent, the St David’s Marist Inanda batsman went on to score a free-flowing 22-ball 29 before he was dismissed in the 16th over. However, by then, his 54-run second wicket stand with Bulbulia had put the game beyond Zimbabwe.
His replacement, Ben Hockly, struck his first boundary from the third ball he faced and was unstoppable from that point onwards. The Hilton College learner batted like he had a plane to catch, smashing three fours and as many sixes on his way to an unbeaten 45 off 28 balls. Together with Bulbulia, Hockly put on an unbeaten 64-run third-wicket partnership from only 43 deliveries.
Benny Zuze was the only successful Zimbabwean bowler with two wickets for 58 runs in seven overs.
Bulbulia, Rowles, and Hockly capitalised on the good work done by the South African bowlers earlier in the day. Zimbabwe’s captain, Nathaniel Hlabangana, must have immediately rued his decision after he won the toss and asked the visitors to bowl first.
South Africa’s left-arm paceman JJ Basson was outstanding with the new ball. He bagged his first wicket when he castled Ambitious Mudimu with his second delivery of the match.
The left-arm quick, then, worked over Zimbabwe’s number three batsman, Rowyn Konson, so much that Konson tried to take a single where there wasn’t one, just so he could get off strike. That rash decision resulted in a run out and the hosts were 2/3 after 2.4 overs. Things did not get easier for the home side, who seemed to be more focused on survival than anything else.
Basson caused the hosts all sorts of difficulties in his eight overs, two of which were maidens, and finished the match with two wickets for 27 runs. However, the pick of the bowlers was Rowles. The South African skipper sent down 10 economical overs, three of them maidens, and bagged two for 24.
Basson’s new ball partner, Buyanda Majola also captured two wickets in his 10 overs, but conceded 48 runs, while Ntando Soni took two wickets for 27 runs in eight overs.
Only two Zimbabwean batsmen exited the twenties, Hlabangana, with 31, and Kirby Madharamete, who made 30.
Scores
Zimbabwe u19 Emerging 161/10 (Nathaniel Hlabangana 31, Kirby Madharamete 30; Jason Rowles 2/24, JJ Basson 2/27, Ntando Soni 2/27); SA u19 Emerging: 162/2 (Mohammed Bulbulia 67*, Ben Hockly 45*; Benny Zuze 2/28).
SA u19 Emerging won by 8 wickets.
