Proteas, Kiwis post easy wins in U-19 World Cup quarters

Opener Kyle Verreynne led the way with a patient half-century as South Africa thrashed Ireland by eight wickets in the quarter-finals of the U-19 World Cup at the Sheikh Kamal International Cricket Stadium here on Thursday.

Verreynne stroked 77 runs off 109 balls seven boundaries and a six. His opening partnership of 104 runs with Liam Smith laid the foundation for the successful South African chase after being set a target of 186 runs.

Smith was unlucky to miss out on what would have been a well-deserved half-century by just a single run. The right-hander scored 49 runs off 86 deliveries with three hits to the fence and a six before being trapped leg before by Fiachra Tucker.

Wiaan Mulder also produced a useful innings later on during the chase, scoring an unbeaten 43 runs off 70 balls.

Adam Dennison (1/27) and Tucker (1/53) were the only wicket-takers in a dismal Irish bowling performance.

Earlier, Dayyaan Galiem picked up two early wickets to leave Ireland struggling at 4/50. But Lorcan Tucker (77 not out) somewhat made up for the top order collapse and ensured that Ireland reached a respectable score of 185/7. Galiem (2/22) and Willem Ludick (2/43) picket up a couple of wickets each for South Africa.

In the day's other quarter-final at the same venue, New Zealand eased past Scotland by a seven-wicket margin. Glenn Phillips played a starring role for the Kiwis, smashing 89 runs off 40 deliveries, hitting 11 boundaries and six sixes along the way.

The right-handed opener's blitzkreig helped New Zealand overhaul the 182-run target in 27 overs. Phillips put together an opening partnership of 98 runs off 70 deliveries with Daniel Stanley (9).

Christian Leopard (25), Josh Finnie (30 n.o.) and Finn Allen (31 n.o.) sealed the new Zealand victory after leg-spinner Haris Aslam had sent Phillips back to the pavilion.

Aslam returned figures of 2/37 while Mitchell Rao (1/28) picked up the wicket of Stanley.

Electing to bat, Scotland were off to a good start before they started to lose wickets at regular intervals. Owais Shah was their top scorer with 32 runs off 66 balls. Left-arm pacer Ross ter Braak returned figures of 3/34 for the Kiwis, while Felix Murray (2/31) and Nathan Smith (2/37) claimed two wickets each.

Brief scores:

Ireland: 185/7 (Lorcan Tucker 77 n.o.; Dayyaan Galiem 2/22, Willem Ludick 2/43) lost to South Africa 187/2 (Kyle Verreynne 77) by eight wickets.

Scotland: 181/9 (Owais Shah 32; Ross ter Braak 3/34) lost to New Zealand 185/3 (Glenn Phillips 89; Haris Aslam 2/37) by seven wickets.