South Africa revive championship hopes at New Zealand's expense

South Africa prepared themselves for a ride into the semi-finals of the ICC Under-19 World Cup with a 24-run win over New Zealand at Lincoln Green today - a win based on a superb 141-run fifth-wicket partnership.

Ryan Bailey and David Jacobs were the batsmen concerned and their effort was a model of sensible batting, working the ones and twos to start with and then building into bigger things the longer their innings went.

Bailey scored 69 off 54 balls and was the first of the pair out in the 48th over while Jacobs followed an over later for 63 off 77 balls.

They had done their job and, by reaching 241/7, South Africa had, to all intents and purposes, shut New Zealand out of the game.

It required a fast start by New Zealand in response and they lost their ace card in big-hitting Jesse Ryder for six runs in the seventh over.

The South African bowling attack, several members of whom were thrashed last summer by the New Zealand Under-19 team who have nearly all advanced in age beyond the limit for this tournament, were superior to New Zealand in all departments, but especially in their slow bowling.

Left-arm slow bowler Ian Postman, if his career continues to blossom threatens to do to future generations of batsmen what Nicky Boje seems to be able to do, to New Zealanders especially, now. He took one for 25 from his 10 overs while big pace bowler Brendon Reddy was a handful for all the batsmen who faced him and he finished with one for 29 off nine.

The two innings of significance for New Zealand were played by Rob Nicol who hit 51, off 77 balls, before getting out in the 25th over while his replacement at the crease Jordan Sheed opened his innings with a cover driven four off the second ball and he top scored with 61 off 65 balls, but did not have enough support to really launch a push by New Zealand for victory.

South African captain Hashim Amla said the win was vital to South Africa as it was the only way they could stay in the competition.

"Hopefully we can beat England on Friday to seal our spot," he said.

"The set-up of the tournament has been brilliant, it keeps interest in the competition.

"Our middle-order has pulled us through and that partnership today couldn't have happened to two better guys.

"And Ian Postman bowled beautifully. The wicket favoured the spinners and our guys had a tremendous effect," he said.

Amla was concerned even when New Zealand's run requirement at the end of the innings got up to nearly 12.

"The ground is not that big and 12 runs an over in the last five overs was not impossible," he said.

He added that if by chance South Africa made it through to the final against Australia, they had learned plenty from their loss on Monday.

New Zealand, if they are to have any chance of making the semi-finals, face the huge task of beating tournament favourites Australia on Friday.

New Zealand coach Mark Greatbatch said the side felt a target of 240 was achievable on the Lincoln Green wicket. They worked to targets in the innings.

"We wanted to be no more than four down at the 40 over mark and we wanted to have 150-170 by that stage. We achieved both of those, but were closer to 150, and in the last eight overs we faltered.

"We had some big overs which gave us 13 and 11 but we also lost two key wickets in the 32nd and 33rd overs where we lost our momentum.

"I thought Postman, their left-arm spinner bowled very well. We saw him here last year and he has really developed since last year and that is a credit to their system."

The New Zealand side had not put together their A performance with the bat and they lacked the innings of 80-100 that won games.

"We have the Bert Sutcliffe Oval for our next game, it's a good strip and we will have a debrief after this to see how we can get better, and if we can improve we might be a chance," he said.

Peter Borren was again the pick of the New Zealand bowlers, taking three for 34 off 10 overs, including both the wickets of the big partnership, while Leighton Burtt took four for 52.