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South Africa’s Dewald Brevis cracked 108 and took the final wicket as South Africa downed Uganda by 121 runs in Trinidad, an emphatic response to their opening Group B defeat at the hands of India.
Having elected to make first use of the Queen’s Park Oval pitch, the young Proteas stuttered and lost openers Ethan-John Cunningham (1) and Valintine Kitime (12) in the powerplay.
That brought Brevis to the crease, with the starlet nicknamed ‘Baby AB’ hoping to build on his fine 65 in a tournament-opening loss to India. He cracked a pair of back-foot boundaries from the second and third balls he faced and pulled medium pacer Yunusu Sowobi dismissively for six in the 13th over.
Brevis’s fast start allowed skipper George Van Heerden to play on the undercard and the pair combined for 74 before the latter pulled a full toss to Fahad Mutagana at 113 for three. Brevis pressed on, scoring heavily behind square on the off side and building a half-century partnership with Kaden Solomon that ended when the keeper-batter was stumped at 166 for four.
Wickets fell around him regularly but with a quick single in the 41st over, Brevis brought up a superb century from 108 balls and lifted his side above 200. The innings petered out somewhat and South Africa lost their last five wickets for 24 runs thanks to seamers Juma Miyagi (3-33) and Pascal Murungi (3-58).
Uganda also found the powerplay overs tough going and left-armer Aphiwe Mnyanda turned the screw early on, castling Ronald Omara in the second over. Mutagana and Isaac Ategeka steadied the ship and got to 33 for one before the former nicked off to Solomon to give Mnyanda another.
That would prove the biggest partnership of the innings as Uganda subsided to 110 all out, losing their last five wickets for 24 runs.
Brevis was the undisputed star of the show with bat and ball, also chipping in with 2-18 and bowling Juma Miyai to take the wicket that sealed victory.
South Africa finish their Group B campaign against Ireland on Friday while Uganda face group leaders India on Saturday.
WEDNESDAY 19 JANUARY MATCHES
India v Ireland, Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Trinidad and Tobago
Australia v Scotland, Conaree Cricket Center, St Kitts and Nevis - International Cricket Council