South Africa crush Zimbabwe, India take rain-hit game

South Africa Under-19s needed just 76 deliveries to secure a comprehensive seven-wicket win over Zimbabwe Under-19s in Visakhapatnam, after an incisive spell of 3 for 10 from the left-arm pacer Nqazibini Sigwili had helped bowl Zimbabwe out for 135.

Sigwili struck early in the innings, bowling opener Joylord Gumbie for two in the sixth over, before dismissing Ryan Burl and Jack Myers in quick succession. Zimbabwe never recovered from this top-order wobble and stumbled to 48 for 7 in the 17th over.

Carl Mumba, making his youth-ODI debut, top-scored with a 37-ball 32 that included four fours and two sixes, and despite him adding 48 for the eighth wicket with Charles Kwinje, Zimbabwe were eventually bundled out in just 32.2 overs.

South Africa made a brisk start, as openers Clyde Fortuin and Aiden Markram raced to 48 in five overs. Markram departed for 23, but Fortuin hit a 35-ball 54 with seven fours and two sixes, and added 74 for the second wicket with Corbin Bosch to all but seal the win.

India Under-19s were awarded an 18-run win via the Duckworth-Lewis method, after rain brought a premature end to their clash against Australia Under-19s.

Chasing a mammoth 322, Australia were decently placed at 156 for 3 after 30 overs, but were behind the par score of 174 when the game was called off.

India were earlier buoyed by a strong batting performance that included a quickfire century from Shreyas Iyer, as well as fifties for Akhil Herwadkar and Ricky Bhui. Herwadkar lost his wicket for 56, but Shreyas and Bhui counterattacked with a 170-run stand for the fourth wicket.

Shreyas blasted 10 fours and six sixes as he zoomed to 109 off just 67 deliveries, while Bhui, who had made 94 against South Africa on Wednesday, hit a 67-ball 66 with six fours and two sixes to take the hosts to a competitive score.

Australia's brief run-chase was led by opener Kelvin Smith, who fresh from his match-winning 139 against Zimbabwe, scored 74 with eight fours and a six.