Opener Clyde Fortuin hit an unbeaten 112 as South Africa gave final touches to its preparations for the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup UAE 2014 with a five-wicket victory over defending champion India at the ICC Academy 1 on Wednesday.
Fortuin belted nine fours and three sixes in a run-a-ball innings as South Africa achieved a 235-run target with five wickets and 39 balls to spare. Earlier, India collected 234 for six in its allotted 50 overs with half-centuries from Vijay Zol (59), Ricky Bhui (56) and Sarfaraz Khan (53 not out).
Bangladesh, which won the Plate Championship in 1998, 2004 and 2010, also recorded a confidence-boosting win as it defeated 1998 champion England by four wickets at Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi, while host the United Arab Emirates (UAE) surprised Zimbabwe by six wickets at The Sevens 1, Dubai.
Mosaddek Hossain scored 75 and opener Shadman Islam contributed 38 as Bangladesh overhauled England’s 218 for seven with four wickets and nine balls to spare, while the UAE dismissed Zimbabwe for 100 in 39.1 overs and then raced to victory for the loss of four wickets and in less than 30 overs.
Other winners on the second and final round of warm-up matches were Afghanistan, Canada, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and West Indies.
Pakistan, winner in 2004 and 2006, had the better of three-time champion and last event’s finalist Australia by 38 runs in a low-scoring fixture at ICC Academy 2. Batting first, Pakistan was bowled out for 179 in 45 overs but bounced back to dismiss Australia for 141 in 44.3 overs.
Shivnarine Chanderpaul’s son Tagenarine was in action at The Sevens 2 when he retired hurt on 62 (7×4, 89 balls) as the West Indies recorded its second successive victory by defeating New Zealand by six wickets. New Zealand was dismissed for 147 in 45.2 overs and the West Indies reached the target in 37.2 overs.
In Sharjah, Sri Lanka beat Namibia by three wickets to continue its confident build-up to the tournament following its five wickets win over India on Monday. Namibia managed 192 for eight from its 50 overs. In turn,Thilaksha Sumanasiri’s 63 guided Sri Lanka to victory with seven balls remaining after the Asian side had slumped to 66 for four.
Afghanistan and Canada were the other winners on Wednesday.
Hashmatullah Shaidi followed up his two for 20 with 63 (11×4, 87 balls) as Afghanistan defeated Scotland by three wickets, while Canada recorded a 72-run win over Papua New Guinea (PNG) after Nitish Kumar’s 82 off just 68 balls and a fine all-round performance by Nikhil Dutta (38 and three for 24).
Scores in brief:
UAE beat Zimbabwe by six wickets at The Sevens 1
Zimbabwe 100, all out in 39.1 overs (Charles Kunje 36; Justin James 3-19, Moaaz Qazi 3-13)
UAE 101-4, 29.5 overs (Patrick Mambo 2-7)
Afghanistan beat Scotland by three wickets at Abu Dhabi Oval 1
Scotland 158 all out, 46.1 overs (Andrew Umeed 38; Muslim Musa 2-18, Hashmatullah Shaidi 2-20)
Afghanistan 161-7, 41.1 overs (Hashmatullah Shaidi 63, Chayank Gosain 3-50)
West Indies beat New Zealand by six wickets at The Sevens 2
New Zealand 147, all out in 45.2 overs (Robert O’Donnell 31)
West Indies 151-4, 37.2 overs (Tagenarine Chanderpaul 62; Kyle Jamieson 2-35)
Bangladesh beat England by four wickets at Zayed Cricket Stadium
England 218-7, 50 overs (Ed Barnard 54, Harry Finch 53; Mehedy Hasan 2-34)
Bangladesh 220-6, 48.3 overs (Mosaddek Hossain 75 not out, Shadman Islam 38)
Pakistan beat Australia by 38 runs at ICC Academy 2
Pakistan 179, all out in 45 overs (Imam-ul-Haq 31; Thomas Andrews 3-32)
Australia 141 all out, 44.3 overs (Alex Gregory 37; Zafar Gohar 2-17, Karamat Ali 2-17, Kamran Ghulam 2-24)
South Africa beat India by five wickets, ICC Academy 1
India 234-6, 50 overs (Vijay Zol 59, Ricky Bhui 56, Sarfaraz Khan 53 not out)
South Africa 235-5, 43.3 overs (Clyde Fortuin 112 not out, Greg Oldfield 35, Jason Smith 31)
Sri Lanka beat Namibia by three wickets at Sharjah Cricket Stadium
Namibia 192-8, 50 overs (Jano Coetzee 35, Zane Green 30; Lakshan Jayasinghe 3-22)
Sri Lanka 196-7, 48.5 overs (Thilaksha Sumanasiri 63, Kusal Mendis 37; Jano Coetzee 2-19)
Canada beat Papua New Guinea (PNG) by 72 runs at Abu Dhabi Oval 2
Canada 231-9, 50 overs (Nitish Kumar 82, Nikhil Dutta 38; Nosaina Pokana 3-27)
PNG 159-9, 50 overs (Tom Willie 45 not out; Keenen Tinto 3-17, Nikhil Dutta 3-24)
