zimcricketnews.com

Zimbabwe's batsmen typically went all to pieces in their final Under-19 World Cup match in Johor on Saturday, giving Ireland 13th place in the tournament. Batting first after Ireland won the toss, only Reginald Nehonde (43) and Solomon Mire (12) reached double figures as Zimbabwe spluttered their way to 99/9 in an innings that was shortened by rain to 27 overs. Andrew Britton took 4/14 from 6 overs.

Ireland weren't exactly stellar in reply, with only on of their 6 batsmen in passing 15, but that was more than enough given Zim's woeful performance and the boys in green passed their target with 22 balls remaining. James Hall top-scored on 32, while Stewart Matsika took 2/14 from his 5 overs.

While there's some promise in the Zim U19 side on the bowling front, the batting is a real cause for concern - the side has been nothing short of hopeless with the bat throughout the tournament. By all accounts, this has been a far weaker side than Zimbabwe could have fielded, with political and / or quota issues being the main cause of the problem. If Zimbabwe want to be able to field a side in future that has any hope of being competitive, such petty concerns really need to be put to one side - but somehow I doubt those in control are really paying attention. Full scorecard below the cut.
Zimbabwe U19 99/9 (27/27 overs; Nehonde 43, Britton 4/14), Ireland U19 100/4 (23.2/27 overs; Hall 32, Matsika 2/14). Ireland in by 6 wickets.

Zimbabwe Under-19s innings (27 overs maximum)
T Chimbambo 	b Britton 	                        2 
PJ Moor 	c Poynter b Britton 	                6 
SF Mire 	b Britton 	                        12 
P Masvaure 	c Dougherty b Britton 	                0 
DB Landman 	c Poynter b Getkate 	                5 
JWM Gaisford 	c Dougherty b Getkate 	                1 
R Nehonde 	c Thompson b Hall 	                43 
S Matsika 	run out (Hall) 	                        2 
CT Mutombodzi 	c Thompson b Hall 	                6 
KM Jarvis 	not out 	                        6 
N Ncube 	not out 	                        1 
    Extras 	(b 2, lb 1, w 12) 	                15 
    Total 	(9 wickets; 27 overs; 113 mins) 	99 

Fall of wickets: 1-11 (Chimbambo, 2.1 ov), 2-13 (Moor, 2.6 ov), 
3-24 (Masvaure, 6.1 ov), 4-29 (Landman, 7.2 ov), 5-33 (Gaisford, 7.5 ov), 
6-34 (Mire, 8.4 ov), 7-51 (Matsika, 16.3 ov), 8-72 (Mutombodzi, 20.2 ov), 
9-95 (Nehonde, 26.1 ov)

Bowling 	O 	M 	R 	W 	Econ 	
SA Britton 	6 	0 	14 	4 	2.33 	(2w)
RJ Keaveney 	3 	0 	16 	0 	5.33 	(3w)
SC Getkate 	6 	2 	17 	2 	2.83 	(2w)
GF McDonnell 	4 	0 	19 	0 	4.75 	(2w)
GJ Thompson 	4 	1 	19 	0 	4.75 	(1w)
JD Hall 	4 	1 	11 	2 	2.75 	


Ireland Under-19s innings (target: 100 runs from 27 overs)
C Dougherty 	c Chimbambo b Ncube 	                11 
BJ Ackland 	b Mutombodzi 	                        14 
JD Hall 	c Nehonde b Matsika 	                32 
PR Stirling 	c Gaisford b Matsika 	                12 
JNK Shannon 	not out 	                        11 
GF McDonnell 	not out 	                        12
    Extras 	(lb 1, w 5, nb 2) 	                8 
    Total 	(4 wickets; 23.2 overs; 91 mins) 	100

Did not bat captain: GJ Thompson, wicketkeeperSW Poynter, SC Getkate, 
SA Britton, RJ Keaveney

Fall of wickets: 1-13 (Dougherty, 3.3 ov), 2-53 (Ackland, 11.5 ov), 
3-65 (Hall, 14.2 ov), 4-83 (Stirling, 20.1 ov)

Bowling 	O 	M 	R 	W 	Econ 	
KM Jarvis 	4 	1 	15 	0 	3.75 	(1w)
N Ncube 	5 	2 	24 	1 	4.80 	(2w)
P Masvaure 	2 	0 	10 	0 	5.00 	(1w)
CT Mutombodzi 	6 	0 	24 	1 	4.00 	(2nb, 1w)
S Matsika 	5 	0 	14 	2 	2.80 	
R Nehonde 	1 	0 	7 	0 	7.00 	
DB Landman 	0.2 	0 	5 	0 	15.00