Defending champions South Africa crashed out of the ICC U19 World Cup after suffering a shock two-wicket loss against qualifier Namibia at Cox Bazar (Bangladesh) on Sunday. Namibia upset the defending champions to join host Bangladesh in the quarterfinals from Group A.
South Africa, batting first, were reduced to 60 for eight by the half-way stage following a four-wicket haul by Michael van Lingen. But Willem Ludick hit 42 in a ninth-wicket stand of 55 runs with Lutho Sipamla as the young Proteas added a further 76 runs.
Defending a modest 136 for nine in 50 overs, South Africa claimed a wicket off the first ball and continued to dismiss batsmen regularly, but Lohan Louwrens stood in the way as he steered Namibia home with an unbeaten 58. The memorable win meant that Namibia, which finished 14th in the United Arab Emirates two years ago, will improve upon its best finish of 11th in Malaysia in 2008.
Namibia's captain Zane Green said he was delighted with the win and said he was not surprised that his team had made the knockout rounds. "We were positive from the start of the tournament because we knew we had the team to go far," said Green. "Our aim was to take it one game at a time and that is what we will continue to do. We want to take the positive energy from this game into our next match against Bangladesh. And then take it from there."
South African captain Tony de Zorzi said his side had let the nation down, but vowed to do well in the Plate Championships. "Our top-order failed badly," he said. "If the boys are honest with themselves, they will realise they played some loose shots. We should have got more than 136 for sure."
"We have let our country down by not qualifying for the quarter-finals, but we will definitely try to finish ninth .... that s the best we can do," he added.
In other matches, Bangladesh beat Scotland by 114 runs in Cox s Bazar for its second win and now clashes with Namibia in the last league match on Tuesday to decide Group A winner. The winner of Bangladesh-Namibia match will feature in the first quarter-final against Group D runner-up (India or Nepal) in Mirpur on Friday while the side that finishes second in Group A will take on winner of Group D in Fatullah on February 6.
England brushed aside Zimbabwe by 129 runs in Chittagong to top Group C with a third successive win. England will now wait the second-placed team from Group B in the quarter-final on 7 February in Mirpur. The West Indies romped to a 262-run win over Fiji in another Group C match in Chittagong. It now faces Zimbabwe on Tuesday to determine the second qualifier from the group with the winner meeting Group B champion (Pakistan or Sri Lanka) in Fatullah on February 8.
Brief scores:
Group C: West Indies beat Fiji by 262 runs in Chittagong. West Indies 340-7, 50 overs (Shamar Springer 106, Gidron Pope 76, Jyd Goolie 66; Cakacaka Tikoisuva 6-59) Fiji 78 all out, 27.3 overs (Gidron Pope 4-24)
Group C: England beat Zimbabwe by 129 runs in Chittagong England 288-4, 50 overs (Jack Burnham 106 not out, Dan Lawrence 59, Max Holden 51; Rugare Magarira 2-36) Zimbabwe 159 all out, 43.4 overs (Jeremy Ives 91; Saqib Mahmood 4-39, Callum Taylor 3-14)
Group A: Bangladesh beat Scotland by 114 runs in Cox's Bazar Bangladesh 256-6, 50 overs (Nazmul Hossain 113 not out, Saif Hassan 49, Mehidy Miraz 51; Mohammad Ghaffar 4-60) Scotland 142 all out, 47.2 overs (Azeem Dar 50; Mohammad Saifuddin 3-17, Saleh Ahmed 3-27)
Group A: Namibia beat South Africa by two wickets in Cox's Bazar South Africa 136-9, 50 overs (Willem Ludick 42, Lutho Sipamla 17 not out; Michael van Lingen 4-24, Fritz Coetzee 3-16) Namibia 137-8, 39.4 overs (Lohan Louwrens 58 not out; Ziyaad Abrahams 2-18, Sean Whitehead 2-27).
