Price, Jennings take South Africa to comfortable win

James Price and captain Keaton Jennings, son of former South Africa player Ray Jennings, continued the terrific batting form they had shown on the tour of Zimbabwe in July 2010, and led South Africa to an easy win in the first Youth ODI in Cape Town. Zimbabwe were never in the hunt after they lost three early wickets in their chase of 267 and ended up 46 runs adrift, with only wicketkeeper Kudzai Sauramba making an impression with the bat.

On the 2010 tour of Zimbabwe, Price had smashed 135 off just 82 balls in the third ODI in Harare and followed it up with half-centuries in each of the two Twenty20 games. He scored briskly once again in Cape Town, reaching 98 off 66 balls with seven fours and seven sixes. Jennings was the leading run-getter in the five-match series in Zimbabwe with 289 runs at an average of 72.25, and carried on that form in the current series, scoring 72 at the top of the order. Price and Jennings shared a 139-run partnership for the second wicket to set the foundation for a big score.

The innings slowed down after Price fell, with Zimbabwe offspinner Godwill Mamhiyo going through his 10 overs for just 34 runs, but 266 was still going to be a difficult task for the visitors.

Seamer Keagan Rafferty did the early damage for South Africa, taking two wickets, and Zimbabwe slumped to 34 for 3. Sauramba fought with his 53, but Zimbabwe could not last the 50 overs, bowled out with nine balls still remaining. Legspinner Lionel Vaaltyn was South Africa's most economical bowler, taking 2 for 29 in his 10 overs, while Jennings chipped in with two wickets with his seamers.

The next game of the five-match series will be played at the Stellenbosch University Ground on January 15.