Day 2 Talking Points - India's future in safe hands; Cox and Bawa hit classy centuries
Elsewhere on Day Two, centuries for Joshua Cox and Emmanuel Bawa helped Ireland and Zimbabwe to wins on the opening weekend, while the UAE edged a thriller against Canada. Here are the top talking points from an action-packed Day Two in the Caribbean.
INDIA BEAT SOUTH AFRICA BY 45 RUNS
Match Highlights | IND v SA | ICC U19 Men's CWC 2022
Watch the Match Highlights from India vs. South Africa, 01/15/2022
Ostwal does the damage
The Providence crowd looked set to enjoy a thrilling finish with South Africa requiring 100 runs to win with seven wickets in hand and more than 15 overs remaining. But the fall of the dangerous Dewald Brevis prompted a collapse as the Proteas lost six wickets for 27 runs to put the kibosh on their run-chase chances.
It was the talented left-arm spinner Vicky Ostwal who did much of the damage, finishing with a five-for and figures of 5/28 off his ten overs.
Brevis a big talent
South Africa may have slumped to defeat, but in Dewald Brevis they have a future star on their hands. The young batter has been nicknamed ‘Baby AB’ and it wasn’t hard to see why at times during an impressive innings that saw him bring up his half-century with a monster six.
The combination of power and game-management that Brevis displayed is an indicator of a bright future for the allrounder from Johannesburg.
Stylish fifty by Dewald Brevis | IND v SA | ICC U19 Men's CWC 2022
Dhull is the real deal
Only a mix-up between the wickets denied India captain Yash Dhull the century that he deserved after a fine knock of 82 from 100 balls to anchor his side’s innings.
If the 19-year-old had been able to extend his stay at the crease then India looked on for a huge total. As it was he still managed to top-score in a total that proved too much for the Proteas.
The right-hander has now scored three half-centuries on the bounce, with this innings following 50s against Australia and the West Indies during the warm-up matches, and he looks well-set to dominate this tournament with the bat.
Meet the future stars of Indian Cricket | U19CWC 2022
UAE BEAT CANADA BY 49 RUNS
Team effort for UAE
The UAE first innings looked in a spot of bother when the top three all fell cheaply. But a combined effort saw the team amass a hefty 284/7 in their 50 overs, with all the remaining batters contributing.
Punya Mehra and Ali Naseer were the stand-out performers with 71 and 73 respectively, but such strength-in-depth should stand the side in good stead for later in the tournament.
Sixteen bowlers on show
An extraordinary match in Basseterre saw 16 bowlers utilised across the two teams in an impressive display of all-round talent in these under-19 squads. The only one of those 16 players not to bowl at least three overs was UAE’s Alishan Sharafu, who picked up his second wicket with the fourth ball of his third over to complete the win for his side.
Mihir Patel just short
Canada captain Mihir Patel did his best to inspire his side in the run chase, with his 96 off 105 balls keeping the match in the balance for much of the second innings.
But as wickets fell around him Patel was forced to take more and more risks, and he was dismissed agonisingly short of his century as the last wicket to fall in Canada’s reply.
IRELAND BEAT UGANDA BY 39 RUNS
Joshua Cox’s stunning hundred | IRE v UGA | ICC U19 Men’s CWC 2022
Joshua Cox stars
There is little doubt of the star of this match, with Ireland wicketkeeper Joshua Cox stroking a superb and unbeaten 111 to help his team to a total of 236.
Cox hit eight fours and a six in his classy innings, finishing not out alongside his number 11 Muzamil Sherzad.
The 18-year-old right-hander is a sure pick in the top four for Ireland and will hope to build on this strong start in the remainder of the group stage.
Humphreys proves too good
Uganda skipper Pascal Murungi gave his side hope of pulling off the run chase with a classy 63 from 82 balls from number five, ably assisted by a quickfire 38 from Juma Miyaji down the order.
But time and again the Uganda effort was pegged back by spinner Matthew Humphreys, who finished with figures of 4/25 from his ten overs. Humphreys backed both openers early on to set Ireland on the path to victory, and then returned to claim the scalp of Murungi just as momentum seemed to be swinging in Uganda’s favour.
ZIMBABWE BEAT PAPUA NEW GUINEA BY 228 RUNS
Emannuel Bawa’s solid century | ZIM v PNG | ICC U19 Men’s CWC 2022
E Bawa with 100 Runs vs. Papua New Guinea, 01/15/2022
Bawa anchors huge win
A 228-run victory in a 50 over match is about as convincing as it gets, and Zimbabwe’s massive win was built on the back of a century from skipper Emmanuel Bawa.
The 18-year-old’s ton came from just 95 balls, with ten fours and two sixes in that knock. His big partnerships with Panashe Taruvinga, David Bennett and Brian Bennett put Zimbabwe on course for a mammoth total, and some big swings late on from the tail saw his side become the first to pass 300 at the tournament.
Classy showing from Chirwa
Bawa impressed with the bat, but Zimbabwe spinner Victor Chirwa also had a significant all-round impact on the match.
First the number nine’s 35 off just 16 balls boosted the Zimbabwe tally up to 321/9. And then it was Chirwa who proved the pick of the bowlers, going for just 11 runs from his seven overs and picking up two wickets, including the crucial scalp of Papua New Guinea captain Barnabas Maha.