(UTV | ENGLAND) – Jacob Bethell helped England advance to the semi-finals of the Super League in a six-wicket win over South Africa.
A blistering display with the bat by Jacob Bethell helped England advance to the semi-finals of the Super League in a six-wicket win over South Africa in their Under 19 World Cup quarter final game played at Sir Vivian Richards Stadiumin Antigua yesterday.
Bethell was one of the bowlers to restrict South Africa to 209 all out before hitting 88 to see England set up a clash with either Sri Lanka or Afghanistan.
South Africa endured a slow start having won the toss and chosen to bat, their first boundary came off the final ball of the fourth over, before Joshua Boyden dismissed Valentine Kitime off the next delivery.
Boyden would claim his 12th wicket of the tournament to send the other opener Ethan-John Cunningham back to the hutch and reduced South Africa to 21 for two.
Dewald Brevis and Gerhardus Maree combined to steady the South African ship, adding 55 runs to the total before Bethell dismissed Maree.
Brevis remained a familiar stronghold for South Africa as he brought up his fourth fifty-plus score in a row eventually falling just short of a century at 97.
His dismissal brought a batting collapse for South Africa as three wickets fell for one run. The batters went in search of boundaries, but only found the hands of fielders with Rehan Ahmed claiming figures of four for 48.
The final-wicket partnership of Matthew Boast and Asakhe Tsaka frustrated England adding 40 as South Africa ended on 209 all out.
Bethell came out all guns blazing in England’s chase, hitting the fourth fastest half-century of ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup history, reaching fifty off just 20 balls, as the Young Lions went at over 10 an over.
South Africa finally struck as Bethell scored 88 from 42 deliveries to place England as overwhelming favorites.
That tag was backed up by good partnerships in the top order, before William Luxton came in at five to strike 47 from 41 balls and get England into the semi-finals with a six.
Meanwhile the super league quarter final match between Sri Lanka and Afghanistan was scheduled to be played yesterday.