POTCHEFSTROOM, SOUTH AFRICA - JANUARY 27: Lewis Goldsworthy of England celebrates a wicket with team mates during the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup Plate Quarter Final 2 match between England and Japan at Witrand Oval on January 27, 2020 in Potchefstroom, South Africa. (Photo by Jan Kruger-ICC/ICC via Getty Images) England is the first team to reach the semifinals of the U-19 World Cup.
With a six-wicket win over South Africa; England advanced to the semi-finals of the ICC U-19 World Cup thanks to Jacob Bethell’s blazing batting outburst. Before striking 88 to help England set up a battle with either Sri Lanka or Afghanistan; Bethell was one of the bowlers who limited South Africa to 209 all out.
After winning the toss and electing to bat, South Africa got off to a slow start; with their first boundary coming off the final ball of the fourth over; before Joshua Boyden removed Valentine Kitime off the following delivery. Boyden would take his 12th wicket of the competition; dismissing South Africa’s other opener Ethan-John Cunningham and reducing them to 21 for two.
Before Bethell dismissed Maree, Dewald Brevis and Gerhardus Maree cooperated to stabilize; the South African ship, contributing 55 runs to the total. Brevis continued to be a bastion for South Africa; scoring his fourth fifty-plus score in a row before falling just short of a century with a score of 97.
South Africa’s batting collapsed after his dismissal; as three wickets dropped for one run as the batsmen searched for boundaries but only found the thankful hands of fielders, with Rehan Ahmed taking four for 48.
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South Africa wrapped up on 209 all out after a final-wicket organization of Matthew Brag; and Asakhe Tsaka baffled Britain by scoring 40 runs. In England’s chase, Bethell came out terminating, crushing the fourth-fastest half-century in U19 World Container history; coming to fifty off fair 20 balls as the Youthful Lions batted at over 10 an over. Only coming to twofold figures within the tenth over some time recently hitting a six to bring up England’s hundred; George Thomas was a excited bystander at the non-end. Striker’s South Africa struck when Bethell went for one as well numerous hurls; but not some time recently he had put on 88 from 42 conveyances to put Britain in a commanding position.
This was backed up by strong top-order partnerships before William Luxton batted; in at number five and hit 47 off 41 balls to send England into the semi-finals with a six. The Plate competition was won by Zimbabwe and the West Indies. In their Plate quarterfinal, Zimbabwe set Scotland a difficult chase of 249 thanks to Matthew Welch’s 78. Scotland was unable to form partnerships and fell to 140 all out, allowing Zimbabwe to move to meet Ireland.
In the semifinals, they will face the hosts, West Indies, who defeated Papua New Guinea by 169 runs. In the Plate play-offs, the West Indies will face the United Arab Emirates, while Papua New Guinea will face Uganda.