BLOEMFONTEIN has been confirmed as one of the five venues for the ICC Under-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2024 to be hosted in South Africa.

The Free State capital will host the blockbuster match between five-time champions India and 2020 winners Bangladesh.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) released the schedule for the 16-team event on Monday, with five venues across South Africa to host a total of 41 matches over more than three weeks in January and February.

India prevailed in the last edition of the tournament in the West Indies in 2022 and are placed in Group A with Bangladesh, Ireland and the USA as they attempt to claim a record sixth Under-19 title.

Group B consists of South Africa, England, West Indies and Scotland.

Group C features Australia, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe and Namibia, while Group D is made up of Afghanistan, Pakistan, New Zealand and Nepal.

The top three sides from each group progress to the Super Six phase of the event ahead of the semi-finals and final in Benoni.

It will be the third time that South Africa has hosted the Under-19 World Cup – after previous editions in 1998 and 2020 – and ICC head of events Chris Tetley believes the country is well placed to build on the success of holding two recent tournaments over the last year.

“In the past 12 months we have seen South Africa successfully deliver two milestone events for the sport – the inaugural ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup last year, and the groundbreaking ICC Women’s T20 World Cup that immediately followed,” Tetley said.

“The relocation of the U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2024 to South Africa allows us the opportunity to build on this momentum and welcome the best young cricketers on the planet to five notable international venues.”

All teams will play two warm-up fixtures in South Africa between January 13-17. – Staff Reporter

A brilliant spell from Ayabonga Khaka has helped South Africa escape with a hard-fought 32-run victory over a gallant Bangladesh in the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup in Dunedin on Saturday.

Khaka’s match-winning four for 32 included a spell of three wickets in nine balls as she put the clamps on Bangladesh’s batting line-up and ensured her side were able to defend a modest total of 207.

Openers Shamima Sultana (28) and Sharmin Akhter (34) had given Bangladesh a perfect start as they reached 69 without loss, but Khaka’s timely intervention reduced the score to 72 for three with wickets falling in quick succession as the required run-rate continued to rise.

Skipper Nigar Sultana (29) and Ritu Moni (27) tried to use their experience to get Bangladesh back in it, but Shabnim Ismail (1/33) and Masabata Klaas (2/36) returned to the crease with the ball as the Proteas held on.

Earlier, Fariha Trisna was the pick of the Bangladesh bowlers with three for 35 while Jahanara Alam and Ritu Moni stood out with two wickets apiece as Bangladesh excelled in their first-ever match at a 50-over World Cup.

All-rounder Marizanne Kapp top-scored for South Africa with 42, while opener Laura Wolvaardt (41) and the dangerous Chloe Tryon (39) also got starts as the Proteas badly missed the big-hitting of veteran batter Lizelle Lee.

South African skipper Sune Luus was dismissed in unlucky circumstances, with the ball deflecting off Rumana Ahmed’s fingers and on to the stumps at the non-striker’s end.

The Proteas were all out in the final over for 207, but that proved enough as Khaka’s inspirational spell and some valuable experience made sure there was no fairytale World Cup debut for Bangladesh. – ICC

Sports Reporter

Only Timycen Maruma and Carl Mumba batted with much spirit as the Zimbabwe A team put up a feeble performance in their second innings and were bowled out for only 93 runs at Harare Sports Club on Thursday.

South Africa A thus won the first unofficial Test match between the sides by an innings and 166 runs.

The host began the day on 22 for two wickets, having started their second innings 259 runs in arrears – the overnight batsmen were Takudzwanashe Kaitano with 10 and Maruma with three.

Kaitano was soon out for 11, dabbling at a ball from Sipamla well outside his off stump that he edged to the wicketkeeper, Sinethemba Qeshile, to make the score 29 for three.

Roy Kaia came in and scored 10 runs before he slashed at a ball from Daryn Dupavillon and was caught on the off side, making the score 45 for four.

As Richmond Mutumbami came in, Maruma hit Dupavillon for two fours in an over, but for the most part stuck to stolid defence – as did Mutumbami, who took 22 balls to get off the mark by slashing a four off Miguel Pretorius past the slips.

Later in the same over, he miscued a defensive stroke and popped a gentle return catch to the bowler, making the score now 67 for five wickets.

Maruma had continued to play a solid defensive game, with occasional hits, but now he slashed wildly at a delivery from Pretorius outside his off stump and edged it straight to the keeper.

He had made 33 off 99 balls, with three fours, and his departure at 70 for six wickets ensured heavy defeat for the team, with only tail-enders to come.

Four further balls would have seen him survive until lunch, when the score was 71 for six.

The innings lasted less than half an hour after lunch.

Only Mumba put up any real fight, hitting three fours in his score of 13 not out off 19 deliveries – with more support from the other tail-enders he might have been able to take the total past 100.

When Tapiwa Mufudza was bowled by Glenton Stuurman the ball smashed the top off his off stump, which had to be replaced.

The last wicket fell when Tanaka Chivanga miscued a hit off Stuurman to leg and was caught, leaving Mumba stranded and the total at a very disappointing 93.

Stuurman took three wickets for 18 and Dupavillon three for 28, while there were two wickets each for Pretorius and Sipamla, all pace bowlers.