England cruised into the semifinal of the ICC Under-19 World Cup 2022 with a powerful six-wicket win against South Africa as they became the first team to enter the last four.
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Rehan Ahmed’s 4/48, combined with Jacob Bethell’s 88 and William Luxton’s unbeaten 47 helped England reach the semi-final of the ICC Under-19 World Cup 2022 by beating South Africa by six wickets in North Sound, Antigua on Thursday. Dewald Brevis, one of the best South Africa batters on the team scored a brilliant 97 but he lacked support. In the end, it was a case of South Africa once again flattering to deceive in an ICC event. For England, they have kept their hopes of winning the ICC Under-19 World Cup trophy for the first time after 24 years.
South Africa chose to bat but they were jolted early on by Joshua Boyden. He took the wickets of Valentine Kitime and Ethan John Cunningham to boost England. It was left to Dewald Brevis to ensure that South Africa reached a big score. He signaled his intentions early by hammering Boyden for a six. Gerhardus Maree gave him good support, hammering Tom Prest for two boundaries. Marre upped the aggression with a four and six off Rehan Ahmed as the partnership went past fifty.
However, just as the partnership looked to be making progress, Jacob Bethell got the wicket of Maree for 27. Brevis continued on his merry ways, hammering two fours off Thomas Aspinwall. Brevis notched up his fourth consecutive fifty-plus score and he continued to hurt England, hammering Ahmed for another six.
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But, wickets tumbled at the other end. Rehan Ahmed dismissed Andile Simelane for 0 and Michael Copeland for 1. Brevis neared his ton with two sixes off Rehan Ahmed and Tom Prest. Baby ABD was putting on a show and it would have made the legendary AB de Villiers proud. His two fours off Bethell got him near to fifty.
But, James Sales provided double heartbreak for South Africa. He dismissed Brevis for a brilliant 97 off 88 balls and followed up with the wicket off Liam Alder. Rehan Ahmed took the wicket of Aphiwe Mnyanda. Matthew Boast blasted two sixes and got South Africa over 200. Asakhe Tshaka then hit two boundaries off Boyden but a run-out ended the resistance. South Africa finished on 209 on 43.4 overs.
Jacob Bethell started going with two boundaries off Matthew Boast but in the third over, he showed his class. He hit four boundaries in one over off Boast to give England a flying start. Bethell neared his fifty with two more fours off Mnyanda. After another six off Boast, Bethell notched up his fifty off just 20 balls with a four off Mnyanda. The carnage continued as Bethell blasted a four and six off Asakhe Tshaka. George Thomas, who was just a spectator at the other end, made his presence known with a four and six off Andile Simelane.
Bethell was nearing his ton but he fell to Asakhe Tshaka for 88. But, England had wiped out most of the target. George Thomas was run out but James Rewa and Tom Prest continued to push England ahead. After the first drinks break, Brevis struck with the ball by removing Prest for 24. Brevis sent back Rew as South Africa looked to fight. But, William Luxton held firm.
Luxton peppered the boundaries on a regular basis and ended the innings in style with a big six off Brevis as England sealed their spot in the semi-finals.
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