Zimbabwe Under-19s beat Canada Under-19s by six wickets as the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup opened in the United Arab Emirates on Friday (February 14). Canada made 192/9, Nikhil Dutta top-scored with 56. Zimbabwe replied with 195/4 from 43.5 overs.
Canada’s 192/9 from 50 overs against Zimbabwe U19’s saw top-scorer Nikhil Dutta in useful stands with Nitish Kumar and Armaan Kapoor. Nikhil Dutta, batting at number four, took part in a third wicket stand of 51 with Nitish Kumar, who made 36, followed by a fourth wicket stand of 63 with Armaan Kapoor, who made 28. Kapoor was out in the 40th over with the progressive total 145/4, but Dutta was caught next over to leave Canada on 155/5. Only Keenan Tinto, batting at number six, reached double figures in the later batting. He was out for 21 as Canada’s innings closed on 192/9.
Zimbabwe had claimed to have some strong spin bowling in the lead up to the tournament. The bowling attack against Canada features four off-spinners, a legspinner and a slow-left arm orthodox spinner. Tinashe Kamunhukamwe’s off-spin brought 3/17 from 4 overs in the closing overs. Herbert Chikomba took 2/21 from ten overs of off-spin, his wickets being Sudeepta Aurka (10) and Nitish Kumar. Nikhil Dutta was caught off the medium-pace of Zimbabwe captain Malcolm Lake. His innings of 56 was complied from 97 balls and included four boundaries.
Canada made a early switch from pace to spin before a brief return to pace in a bid to break through the Zimbabwe batting. Opening bats Joylord Gumbie and Tarisi Musakanda posted 95 for the first wicket then both departed in quick succession. Musakanda was bowled by off-spinner Nikhil Dutta for 33 to end the sixteenth over. Gumbie fell leg-before-wicket to legspinner Trevor Manoosingh to start the next over. Gumbie made 49.
Kamunhukamwe was run out for 24 to end a third wicket stand of 40 with Charles Kunje. Burl was caught by Nitish Kumar off left-arm spinner Farhan Malik that left Zimbabwe on 151/4 after 33.5 overs. Kunje then lead the way to victory for his side, supported by 25 not out from Luke Jongwe. Charles Kunje was 42 not out when Zimbabwe completed the win by reaching 195/4.
Nikhil Dutta led the bowling economy for Canada with 1/22 from ten overs.
The other game in Group C saw South Africa beat the West Indies by 94 runs. South Africa scored 198/9 (50 ov). The West Indies innings began with a first-ball run out and trouble loomed at three wickets down for just one run early in the third over.
Canada now faces South Africa on Sunday in Abu Dhabi. Only four South African batsmen made double figures against the West Indies on Friday, although four quick breakthroughs at the start of the West Indies suggest the South Africans have some useful opening bowling. Hopefully the young Canadians will benefit from today’s game and come back with confidence against South Africa in the next game.
Eddie Norfolk
Scorecard