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A rain-affected day three of the warm-up matches at the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2024 in South Africa saw three out of the four matches washed out.

The first two days of the warm-up games have thrown up some standout performers – South Africa’s Kwena Maphaka and Pakistan’s Ubaid Shah produced impressive performances, spinners Nathan Sealy and Mohammad Ghazanfar also shone, while India’s Uday Saharan and USA centurion Siddharth Kappa excelled with the bat.

More youngsters stood out on the third day of warm-up action. We round it up all up here.

Ireland vs Namibia

Toss: Ireland elect to bat

Result: No result

Ireland and Namibia were affected by another rain-hit game in their build-up to the U19 Men’s CWC. 

Namibia had their first game against USA washed out, while Ireland lost to Zimbabwe by the DLS method on Sunday. 

Today, Ireland opted to bat first against Namibia and the openers got off to a watchful start, putting up 22 in 5.2 overs, before rain interrupted proceedings. It never relented, and play was abandoned.

Nepal v West Indies

Toss: Nepal opt to bowl

Result: No result

Another rain-marred game at the Dlamini Oval had Nepal opting to bowl after winning the toss, with the impressive Gulshan Jha striking early with the ball early on. 

However, with less than 10 overs bowled and the score at 33/1, rain interrupted proceedings and no further play was possible. 

USA v Zimbabwe

Toss: USA opt to bowl

Result: Zimbabwe won by 12 runs (DLS Method)

USA were impressive after opting to bowl against Zimbabwe at the Tshwane University of Technology Oval in Pretoria. 

Aaryan Batra and Arya Garg took out the openers early. Panashe Taruvinga, who had played a handy knock against Ireland on Sunday, stood firm at No.3 for a while, but USA kept striking at regular intervals.

Batra and Garg were the pick of the bowlers sharing five wickets between them. Skipper Matthew Schonken, who was impressive with the ball in the match against Ireland, contributed a valuable 29 from the lower order.

Zimbabwe made 136/9. In reply, USA put on a 34-run stand for the opening wicket and a further 26 for the next, but wickets fell in quick succession thereafter.

60/1 turned into 61/5 as Anesu Kamuriwo and Ryan Simbi, a late replacement in the squad, ran through the middle-order. 

At 112/9, USA were going nowhere and despite a cameo from Siddarth Kappa, Zimbabwe won by 12 runs on the DLS method.

South Africa v Afghanistan

Toss: South Africa opt to bat

Result: No result

Opting to bat first at the Braam Fisherville Sports Complex in Johannesburg, South Africa were jolted by a spirited bowling performance from Afghanistan. 

Familiar foes after their tussles in the recent tri-nations series in South Africa, Afghanistan’s bowlers proved too hot for the hosts.

Lhuan-dre Pretorius and Steve Stolk got to double digits, but couldn’t carry on. David Teeger played the anchor role from No.3 but the others fell around him as Afghanistan reduced the Proteas U19 side to 125/7 before rain interrupted play.

Leg-break bowler Khalil Ahmad was the pick of the Afghanistan bowlers, picking up three wickets. 

Rain prevented further play at the venue, but Afghanistan, fresh off a significant win over England, once again showcased the threat they pose at the U19 Men’s CWC.

ENDS