Luus, Gazide and Pretorius set SA u19’s up for series lead

Tristan Luus claimed four wickets to help set South Africa Under-19s (SA U19s) up for what proved to be a comfortable four-wicket win over Bangladesh U19s on the DLS Method in match three of their five-game one-day series in Khulna on Tuesday.

There were also half–centuries by Thebe Gazide and Lhuan-dre Pretorius – the pair sharing in an impressive 125-run opening partnership – as the tourists reached their 241-victory target with five balls to spare.

The result put Malibongwe Maketa’s charges 2-1 up in the series after they also won a rain-affected match one via the DLS Method in a much-tighter 10-run triumph last Friday, before slipping to a 14-run loss on Sunday. The series now shifts to Rajshahi for game four this Friday.

And the South Africans will be pleased to be ahead in what is turning out to be a closely fought contest, which is being used by both teams as preparation for the 2024 ICC U19 Men’s World Cup in Sri Lanka.

The home side won the toss at the start and opted to bat first, but they found themselves in early trouble thanks to the first breakthrough from Player of the Match Luus, who took four for 60, as well as strikes by Sipho Potsane (2/38), Oliver Whitehead (1/5) and Romashan Pillay (1/42).

It left the score on 70 for four inside the opening 15 overs. But the Tigers then fought back through Chowdhury Rizwan (77 off 98 balls, 2 fours, 4 sixes) and Shihab James (29).

The two added 45 together, while there was also a key contribution by number eight Mahfuzur Rabby (74 off 66 balls, 3 fours, 4 sixes).

The latter put on the highest partnership of the innings worth 76 with Rafiuzzaman Rafi (23) that eventually propelled Bangladesh to 241 for nine.

Debutant Gazide (53 off 58 balls, 7 fours, 1 six) and Pretorius(66 off 79 balls, 5 fours, 3 sixes) were commanding in their reply scoring at more than six runs to the over during their partnership that finally broke in the 21st over.

David Teeger (30), captain Juan James (34) and Richard Seletswane (18) then did the bulk of the scoring to help close in on the target, with Pillay (13) and Whitehead (11*) carrying the visitors to their target at the start of the final over.

SA U19s Men’s squad against Bangladesh

Liam Alder (Warriors), Esa Gangat (Eastern Province), Thebe Gazide (Lions), Bennie Hansen (Western Province), Juan James (Western Province), Tristan Luus (Titans), KwenaMaphaka (Lions), Dewan Marias (Easterns), Romashan Pillay (KwaZulu-Natal Coastal), Sipho Potsane (Lions), Lhuan-drePretorius (Lions), Richard Seletswane (Lions), David Teeger(Lions), Johnathan van Zyl (KwaZulu-Natal Inland), Oliver Whitehead (Western Province).

Non-traveling reserves

Martin Khumalo (Easterns), Riley Norton (Boland), Ntando Zuma (KwaZulu-Natal Inland).

Management

Malibongwe Maketa (Head Coach), Blanche Conradie (Team Manager), Thabang Kumalo (Fielding Coach), Justin Sammons (Batting Coach), Paul Adams (Bowling consultant), Curtly Diesel (Strength and Conditioning Coach), Sheenagh Jordaan (Physiotherapist), Kyle Southgate (Performance Analyst).

Tour Itinerary

Thursday, 06 July

Bangladesh U19s lost to South Africa U19s by 10 runs (DLS Method) at SANS in Khulna

Sunday, 09 July

Bangladesh U19s beat South Africa U19s by 14 runs at SANSin Khulna

Tuesday, 11 July

Bangladesh U19s lost to South Africa U19s by 4 wickets (DLS Method) at SANS in Khulna

Friday, 14 July

Bangladesh U19s vs South Africa U19s at SKS in Rajshahi

Monday, 17 July

Bangladesh U19s vs South Africa U19s at SKS in Rajshahi