Jorich van Schalkwyk became the first batsman in Youth ODI history to score a double century as South Africa U19 began their Tri-Series with a 278-run win over Zimbabwe U19 in Harare on Friday.
The right-hander, who set the national record for the highest individual score in Benoni on Tuesday when he scored 164* against Bangladesh, went one better to smash the international record of 191 held by Sri Lanka’s Hasitha Boyagoda against Kenya in 2018.
The 18-year-old scored an incredible 215 off 153 balls (19 fours, six sixes) to help his side amass 385, another record, beating their previous highest-score total of 359-6 against Namibia in Brisbane back in 2012.
Enathi Khitshini then claimed four wickets and Bayanda Majola took three as the hosts were blown away for 107. The margin of victory was also a record, beating the 209-run triumph from that same game in Australia.
It was a fine performance by the South Africans and gave them a major confidence-boos=ng start to the series at Sunrise Sports Club, which also involves Bangladesh.
They won the toss and batted first with Van Schalkwyk at the heart of everything for almost the entire innings – he was only out in the 47th over.
He shared in a 178-run third-wicket partnership with co-captain Jason Rowles (76 off 79 balls; six fours) and then put on 105 with Paul James (41) for the next wicket.
Even though the junior side got close to 400, there was one standout performer with the ball – Tatenda Chimugoro returned figures of 6-62 to leave the tourists all out with one ball to spare.
But the Zimbabwean innings lasted only 24.3 overs. During that time, Nathaniel Hlabangana (31) and Kupakwashe Muradzi (40) scored nearly half the runs with a 53-run opening partnership.
However, once that was snapped by Ntando Soni (1-29) it was one-way traffic for the hosts. No other batsman got to double figures as extras (11) was third-best scorer and Zimbabwe faded badly.
Khitshini, Majola and Dayalan Boyce (2-18) were all outstanding, sealing a big win and strong start to the series.
