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SA to meet Bangladesh in ICC U19 World Cup quarter-final following D/L win over UAE

Bryce Parsons congratulated by Bryce Parsons of South Africa for reaching his 50 during the 2020 ICC U19 World Cup match between South Africa and United Arab Emirates at Mangaung Oval on January 25, 2020 in Bloemfontein, South Africa.
Bryce Parsons congratulated by Bryce Parsons of South Africa for reaching his 50 during the 2020 ICC U19 World Cup match between South Africa and United Arab Emirates at Mangaung Oval on January 25, 2020 in Bloemfontein, South Africa.
Image: Frikkie Kapp/Gallo Images

South Africa will face Bangladesh in the ICC Under-19 World Cup Super League‚ quarter-finals in Potchefstroom on Thursday after seeing off the United Arab Emirates (UAE) by 23 runs via the Duckworth/Lewis method.

South Africa‚ who batted first at the Mangaung Oval‚ totaled 299/8 in their 50 overs.

UAE‚ who knew there was rain predicted for later in the day‚ started quickly with 44 runs off the first five overs but they lost wickets and were tamed to 112/3 in 23.5 overs before the elements had the final say.

Jonathan Figy (36*)‚ who is a capped international‚ and Kai Smith (18*) mounted a spirited defiance with an unbeaten 47-run stand after the visitors slipped to 65/3 in the 10th over after their electric start.

Vriitya Aravind‚ another full international‚ raced to 31 off 17 balls but when he fell to SA captain Bryce Parsons (1/22)‚ he took the momentum with him.

Aryan Lakra (six) and Ansh Tandon (12) fell to Achille Cloete (1/27) and Pheko Moletsane (1/14) respectively to stall momentum before the weather delays.

There were two rain stoppages at 15.43 and 16.21 respectively‚ with the latter one that was accompanied by a dust-storm being the game-ender.

They slipped behind the run-rate and DLS target‚ but South Africa the batting heavy lifting was once again done by Parsons (84) and Luke Beaufort (85).

They combined for a 152-run‚ third wicket stand that put the hosts in a very strong position.

They didn't get to their deserved centuries as they were caught at deep extra cover by Karthik Meiyappan and Akasha Tahir off Sanchit Sharma (3/57).

Their wickets slowed South Africa down significantly and in the last 10 overs‚ they could only score 74 runs.

Gerald Coetzee's big-hitting absence was sorely felt‚ but their best batsmen had done what was required of them.

South Africa's start was a bright one after Parsons had called correctly.

Jonathan Bird (43) and Khanya Cotani (19) briskly put together 63 for the first wicket in exactly 10 overs.

They fell within five balls of each other as Lakra (3/48) trapped them in front. Fresh from a 93-ball 121 against Canada on Wednesday‚ Parsons again led the way with measured innings.

He saw off the spin threat posed by Lakra and Meiyappan and in raising his 50 off 46 balls‚ he set himself and the team up very well for a competitive total.

Converting a start to a 50 was refreshing for Beaufort‚ who got in both games against Afghanistan and Canada.

His 50 was slower‚ coming off 66 balls but after the Afghanistan debacle‚ SA's senior batsmen have more than taken up the cudgels.

The same has applied for Bird‚ who's measured belligerence again gave SA a decent platform.

There wasn't a 50 for him‚ but his 36-ball innings contained seven fours and one six.

Cotani moved up the order to replace the struggling Andrew Louw and he was content to rotate the strike.

However‚ what was missing was the late middle-order punch that should have pushed the score well past 300.

Tyrese Karelse (26)‚ Tiaan van Vuuren (two)‚ Jack Lees (15)‚ Pheko Moletsane (12*)‚ Merrick Brett (six) and Cloete (2*) all failed to get the run-rate moving faster in the right direction.

The rain though moved the hosts in the right direction of the play-offs.