Raynard van Tonder’s team are looking to maintain momentum and finish the group phase of the U19 World Cup at the top of their group.

They meet New Zealand, who hold the top spot in Group A on net run rate, in a largely irrelevant match as both have already qualified for the quarter-finals.

The leader of Group A will meet the No 2 of Group D; it will be either Pakistan or the surprise package Afghanistan, who beat Pakistan and Sri Lanka to secure their quarter-final place.

The South Africans have come off two convincing victories, beating Kenya by 169 runs and the champions West Indies by 76 runs after the controversial ‘obstructing the field’ dismissal.

Hermann Rolfes, who took four wickets in the victory over the West Indies, believes the success of the tournament will hinge on seizing the moments that can influence the game.

‘One of our Key Performance Indicators is to define and take advantage of the game-changing moments,’ he said. ‘It can be something that leads to a wicket or a great piece of fielding that gets the team’s mood and confidence up. There’s no set definition, except that it changes the direction of the game to our advantage. These moments always add up to something special at the end of the day.

‘Team spirit is another great plus,’ added Rolfes. ‘Knowing that you have 10 other guys around you that you can count on is a big thing when you’re playing in a high-pressure game that is also a must-win. The nice thing about this team is that we get along on and off the field, so we’re a lot closer than most teams. When the pressure is on, I know that I can look to Raynie [van Tonder] and the guys to get advice or a quick word that can motivate me. Usually that’s when those game-changing moments come about.’

The match, a day-nighter, will be broadcast live on SuperSport 2 from 02:45, SA time.

Photo: Anesh Debiky/Gallo Images