South African under-19s get tour off to entertaining start

The visiting South African under-19 cricketers showed they were well prepared in foreign conditions, when they lined up for their opening New Zealand tour match against an Otago under-19 side at Centennial Park in Oamaru.

After the start was delayed by an hour due to overnight rain, the South Africans provided a most enjoyable day's cricket by hitting the loose ball hard and, sometimes, even the good ball in the same manner.

Sent in by the Otago captain Jordan Sheed, the South Africans found conditions difficult in the early stages. The bowling side benefited from a greenish pitch which produced quite a few awkward balls to negotiate.

However the South Africans, in spite of losing opener Michael Price when the score was 25, battled hard and eventually his partner James Schorn scored a fine 94. He deserved a century but surely will manage that goal before the tour is over, given the talent evident within him.

The South African captain Rivash Gobind scored an attractive 38, and Chad Baxter an excellent hard-hitting 70 before Imran Khan (not to be confused with the former Pakistani captain) and Gerhard de Bruin each got into the teens to take their side to 280/9 before declaring.

The Otago wicket-keeper Matt George impressed with four catches as did the Otago fielding with some excellent returns from the deep.

In the bowling department Johnathan Hodson (4-63 from 22 overs) deserved a five-wicket bag, which nearly came his way. In support Anthony Wilkinson, took a very tidy 1-21 from 16 overs and Matt Adair 2-54 from 15 overs, while Ben Ryan (1-52 from 15.3) and Jamie Murley (1-57 from 16) were the other wicket takers. Overall Otago bowled well but not outstandingly on a pitch which was good to bat on after initial life.

The Otago openers Shaun Haig and Anthony Wilkinson had to bat an hour before stumps were drawn at 7pm, and faced a fiery spell from speedster Monde Zondeki who beat the bat many times. His partners were Gerhard De Bruin and South African vice-captain Johan Botha, who too provided a stern test for Haig and Wilkinson. But perserverance paid off and Otago reached 20 without loss at the close of play.