Tight bowling brought Tanzania a comfortable 75-run victory over Mozambique and third place in the Under-19 World Cup Qualifier Africa Division Two at Potchefstroom.
The offbreaks of Dhrumit Mehta ran through the Mozambique top order, helping to reduce them to 31-4 in eight overs, a position from which they never recovered as they attempted to chase Tanzania’s 215.
Only Vieira Tembo stood firm, scoring a wonderful 90 off 139 balls as his teammates came and went. Last Emilio was the next highest scorer with 16.
Having won the toss and sent Tanzania in to bat, Mozambique’s decision was immediately rewarded with two wickets in six overs with only 14 runs on the board. Although captain Baraka Laiza attempted to dig in, eventually working his way to 27 off 49 balls, wickets fell regularly, two of which were taken by paceman Alex Conwan.
Finally, with the score on 89-5, Mehta (37 off 56) was joined by Kartik Sayal (45 off 57) and together they began to rebuild the innings. They put on 79 in 13 overs to build a base, but the 15-year-old Bernardo Simango undermined their efforts by removing both within three balls of the 36th over. He would go on to take another, ending up top striker on 3-55 alongside Conwan (3-32 off 6.2 overs), who had done so much to destroy the Tanzanian top order.
The Tanzanians struggled to 215 in just over 46 overs on the back of a late fightback from Sefu Omari (who ended unbeaten on 20) and Dhruv Pancholi, run out on 16.
It was more than enough.
Photo: Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images
