Van Tonder sets up SA U19s opening WC victory

The South Africa U19s announced themselves with an emphatic 169-run victory over Kenya in the U19 World Cup at Lincoln Green Oval on Sunday.

Captain Raynard van Tonder led from the front, smashing 143 runs from 121 deliveries in his side’s opening match.

They posted a daunting 341/7 after winning the toss and electing to bat first, Van Tonder’s knock including 14 fours and five sixes.

The innings was disturbed briefly when the youngsters lost Matthew Breetzke to the Kenyan skipper, Sachin Bhudia for seven at the end of the third over, but his opening partner Jiveshen Pillay (62 off 67) soldiered on, sharing a 125-run, third-wicket stand with Van Tonder, setting their side on course for a big score.

Another highlight of the South African batting innings was a 65-run burst that came from tail-enders, Gerald Coetzee and Jade de Klerk. The former and number nine batsman, smashed a sensational 14-ball 36 with the latter adding his own impressive 28 from 23 deliveries.

Both returned unbeaten, moving the South Africans to an imposing 341/7 after they were sitting on 276 at the fall of the captain’s wicket.

Kenya managed 172/7 in their reply. Their top scorer was number seven batsman, Jasraj Kundi who hit 41 runs from 53 balls (5 fours), while number eight, Ankit Hirani returned unbeaten for 35 (58 balls, 2 fours). Everyone else could not surpass Bhudia’s 19 off 32.

Akhona Mnyaka and Kenan Smith (2/36) took two wickets each, Mnyaka the pick of the bowlers with figures of 2/9 in four overs, including a maiden.

An area South Africa will look to address will be the 18 runs in extras conceded, while Kenya bowled 12.

Van Tonder was named the Man of the Match.

The next World Cup Group A fixture for South Africa is on Wednesday when they take on defending champions West Indies at the Bay Oval in Tauranga.