Cape Town - South Africa Under-19 captain Raynard van Tonder is hoping for more consistency from his batsmen as they prepare to take on West Indies in their five-match Youth One-Day International series decider at the Chatsworth Oval in Durban on Wednesday.
The hosts missed the chance to seal victory on Sunday after they were disappointingly bowled out for a below-par 207 in Pietermaritzburg.
It was the second time in three games they were restricted to that score, allowing the tourists to level each time.
In the other two games, the South Africans made scores of 223/5 (in 41.1 overs chasing) and 288/6 (batting first). On both occasions it was enough for easy wins and Van Tonder is hoping for a similar scenario in match five.
“I think we started off well with the bat in the last game, but then we had two run outs and lost a few wickets for not many runs,” he said. “For the next game we need to improve on our batting.
“I think we’ve a bit inconsistent in that department. We did well in one game then not so well, then well and then not so well. So we need to be consistent.
“The momentum needs to remain and if we do that, we’ll have a good chance of achieving a positive result.”
Play begins at 09h00 in Chatsworth.
South Africa U19 team:
Raynard van Tonder (Free State), Matthew Breetzke (Eastern Province), Curtis Campher (Gauteng), Jesse Christensen (Western Province), Gerald Coetzee (Free State), Jade de Klerk (Eastern Province), Fraser Jones (KZN Inland), Wandile Makwetu (Gauteng), Andile Mogakane (KZN Coastal), Kgaudise Molefe (Gauteng), Jason Niemand (Eastern Province), Thando Ntini (Western Province), Jiveshan Pillay (Northerns), Herman Rolfes (Northerns), Kenan Smith (Eastern Province).