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Young Proteas win semis

The Junior Proteas cruised to an 80-run victory over their Australian counterparts in the semi-final of the ICC U-19 World Cup played in Dubai on Wednesday.

The win booked the South Africans a place in the final where they’ll meet a strong Pakistan team who overcame England in the other semi-final.

Young, up-and-coming fast bowler, Kagiso Rabada, terrorised the Aussies in a manner similar to Dale Steyn’s heroics in the recent Test match in Port Elizabeth.

The right-hander caused havoc and took 6/25 in 8.2 overs while regularly bowling at speeds of 141km/h plus.

Earlier in the match, the SA U-19s posted a respectable 230 for 9 in their allotted 50 overs as wicketkeeper Clyde Fortuin top-scored with a well-placed 74, which included eight boundaries.

He was ably-supported by his skipper, Aiden Markram, who has been in superb form of late, and the pair put on 105-run opening stand before Markham was dismissed in the 21st over for 45 as the Aussie spinners started to take shape.

Fortuin went out next with score at 150-2, but the South Africans had plenty of batting to come with middle-or -der batsman, Yaseen Vallie, scoring a brisk 31 at almost a run-a-ball - thus ensuring a competitive total for their opponents.

The Aussie reply was soon stifled with Rabada taking two wickets in his third over as the top-order struggled to handle the genuine pace of the 18 year-old fast bowler.

They were left reeling at 33/3 before some dogged-resistance by Jake Doran and Alex Gregory maintained hope for the Aussies with a 63-run partnership.

The pair then both fell in quick succession courtesy of some tidy seam bowling from Corbin Bosch which left Rabada to rip through the Australian tail to ensure the South African U/19s remain unbeaten in the tournament and will make their first appearance in final since 2008.

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