Aussie spinners put the brakes on SA

The Australian spinners have done the job in Dubai, turning the screws on what was looking like a massive South African total in their Under 19 semi final clash in Dubai.

After winning the toss and opting to bat the Proteas openers looked in complete control early, working the Aussie quicks around the perfect outfield with ease.

Quick Guy Walker fared particularly poorly, going at more than seven an over and struggling with his line throughout.

But redemption wasn’t far away for the blonde dynamo.

Clyde Fortuin (74) and Aiden Markram (45) had put on 105 for the first wicket, when a stunning one-handed diving catch from Walker at point, off the bowling of James Bazley, sent Markram back to the sheds.

Despite the breakthrough, South Africa remained dominant at the crease, building at better than five an over as each of captain Alex Gregory’s bowling changes proved fruitless.

Enter Matthew Short.

In what would prove an omen for an inspired change of tactics, Short’s first-ball full toss was smashed straight to Thomas Andrews at cover and the, up until then, flawless Fortuin was left ruing a missed opportunity.

Short’s second scalp came shortly after, finding the leading edge of Kirwin Christoffels and gifting the easiest of catches to Gregory at mid-off.

When Andrews drew Gregory Oldfield into a false stroke and hung on to a sharp return catch, South Africa was suddenly 4-167 off 36 overs and stagnating badly.

With the innings pulled back in Australia’s favour, the big Aussie quicks re-entered the contest, Billy Stanlake and Ben Ashkenazi bowling full and straight to nab a couple of wickets each and limit South Africa to 9-230 off their 50 overs.

In reply, Australia lost three early wickets to the raw pace of Kagiso Rabada, reduced to 3-33 off nine overs.

Short was the first to go, the opener top-edging a straightforward catch through to keeper for seven and Mortimer followed shortly after, bowled beautifully by a full ball rolling back into him.

Morgan completed the trilogy of terror for the Aussies when, after edging a boundary over the slips, he chopped back onto his stumps for four.

Australia named an unchanged lineup for the semi final, keeping the same team that beat Bangladesh in the group stage and West Indies in the quarter final.

A win in today's semi final will send the Aussies to Saturday’s final where they’ll play Pakistan, while a loss will pit them against England in a play-off for third.

Gregory’s side has recovered from a tough first-up group-stage loss at the hands of Afghanistan to record impressive victories over Bangladesh and a Nicholas Pooran inspired West Indian outfit.

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