India 232 (Dhull 82, Tambe 35, Boast 3-40) beat South Africa 187 (Brevis 65, Ostwal 5-28, Bawa 4-47) by 45 runs
However, Bawa was not the standout bowler. India’s bowling effort was controlled by their two left-arm spinners Nishant Sindhu and Ostwal. Although Sindhu went wicketless, he conceded only 22 runs in his quota of ten overs, while Ostwal’s five-wicket haul came at an economy of 2.80.
South Africa’s chase had started off with opener Ethan-John Cunningham out lbw to a beautiful length delivery from seamer Rajvardhan Hangargekar. It nipped in and trapped Cunningham while he shouldered arms. Ostwal then removed the dangerous-looking Valentine Kitime for 25 with a ball spinning away that took the right-hander’s outside edge to wicketkeeper Dinesh Bana, and took his second when Gerhardus Maree edged another one behind.
Brevis and Van Heerden then began South Africa’s recovery from a score of 83 for 3, but consumed too many dots, scoring just 55 runs in a partnership that lasted 91 deliveries. Most of those overs were bowled by the two left-arm spinners who put in the choke. Yet, with seven wickets standing and the required run rate a manageable 6.67 in the last 15 overs, it was still doable for South Africa.
That is when Bawa got in their way to remove Brevis. Ostwal too returned, rattlling Michael Copeland’s stumps, and going on to dismiss Kadence Sullivan and Matthew Boast as well. Dhull, earlier India’s hero with the bat, took the final catch in the 46th over to complete India’s 45-run victory.
At 11 for 2, Dhull joined his vice-captain Shaik Rasheed, who scored 31, and despite the early jolts, batted positively to keep the scoreboard ticking with a 71-run third-wicket stand.
Dhull played exquisite cuts off the back foot, and crunched cover drives through the gaps to balls that had width. And when the No. 5 Sindhu began with a flurry of boundaries, Dhull briefly took the back seat, but the partnership broke when Sindhu was stumped off Copeland for a 25-ball 27.
At that stage, India were 126 for 4 in the 27th over, but Dhull was growing in confidence after going past fifty. He struck 11 fours in all and looked set for a century, offering no real chance to the South Africa bowlers. But that changed in the 39th over when he looked for a single that wasn’t there, and while trying to turn back, was out via a direct hit from point.
Kaushal Tambe then took over, contributing 35 after a slow start to his innings. However, he was out while trying to cut to point off Boast. Next ball, Boast took his third when Hangargekar fell for a duck with India in danger of not batting the entire 50 overs. And that is what ultimately happened when Ostwal chipped a half-tracker back to legspinner Brevis with India’s score at 232.
In the end, though, the 19 deliveries that India did not face did not end up hurting them. Their superior run rate on a two-paced and spinning surface proved too much for South Africa.
United Arab Emirates 284 for 7 (Naseer 73, Mehra 71, Gurnek 2-38) beat Canada 235 (Mihir 96, Chima 46, Giyanani 2-10) by 49 runs
Zimbabwe 321 for 9 (Bawa 100, D Bennett 58, Kevau 3-65) beat Papua New Guinea 93 (Maha 15, Chirwa 2-11, B Bennett 2-20) by 228 runs
In response, however, PNG were all out for 93 in 35 overs, their highest partnership reading 23 and their highest individual score being 15. Ngenyasha Zvinoera, Brian Bennett and Chirwa took two wickets each, with one apiece from Tendekai Mataranyika and Mitchell.
Ireland 236 for 9 (Cox 111*, Rouz 32, Baguma 2-34) beat Uganda 197 (Murungi 63, Miyaji 38, Humphreys 4-25) by 39 runs
Batting first, Ireland had lost four wickets before even crossing 100, but Cox’s 59-run fifth-wicket stand with Philippus le Roux, who got 32, started their recovery. Even though wickets fell around him, Cox at No. 4 stayed undefeated in an innings of eight fours and one six to take Ireland to 236 in the end.
Sreshth Shah is a sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo. @sreshthx