Mixed results for African sides in U19 Cricket World Cup opening matches

By David Ochieng Mbewa

The 14th edition of the U19 ICC Cricket World Cup which kicked off on Friday in the West Indies saw Africa’s representatives register mixed results.

The only one of the three sides from the continent to pick up a victory was Zimbabwe who dismissed Papua New Guinea for 93 to claim a 228-run win at Queen’s Park Oval.

FILE PHOTO: A cricket ball is seen lying on a pitch. /CFP

The remaining two sides, South Africa and Uganda, suffered 45-run and 39-run defeats to India and Ireland, respectively.

Zimbabwe currently tops Group C with two points, ahead of Afghanistan and Pakistan, who are yet to play each other, and Papua New Guinea.

Zimbabwe is due to face Pakistan on Monday at the Diego Martin Sporting Complex in Diego Martin.

Meanwhile, Uganda and South Africa, who are in the same group, Group B, are third and fourth, respectively, behind India and Ireland.

Uganda will next play South Africa, winners of the competition in 2014, at Queen’s Park Oval in Port of Spain on Tuesday.

The top two teams from each of the four groups will advance to the Super League stage while the remaining teams will battle it out in the Plate tournament.

The Super League will take place from January 26 in Antigua and Barbuda while the Plate tournament will take place in Trinidad and Tobago from January 25-31.

The semifinals will be hosted by the Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Ground and Coolidge Cricket Ground on February 1 and 2 while the final will be held at the Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Ground on February 5.

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