South Africa secured ninth-place finish in the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup after they blew away Ireland by eight wickets today.

Chasing the paltry total of 186, South African top-order did the job professionally and proficiently in the end. They didn’t allow Ireland to come back in the match.

Kyle Verreynne was the highest scorer for Proteas with his knock of 77 runs. He was ably supported by Liam Smith with 49.

For Ireland, only Tucker and Dennison took a wicket each, while the rest of the bowlers toiled in vain to stall South Africa.

South Africa lost their second wicket at the cusp of victory when Verrrynne was caught out for a match-winning 77.

His knock ensured Proteas could comfortably reach the target set by Ireland. He faced 109 balls, and smashed seven fours and a huge six to punctuate his innings.

The wicket was too little too late for the Irish camp.

Ireland tasted success after 26 overs when they finally managed to break the opening stand that yielded 104 runs when Smith was sent back for 49 runs.

Smith managed his innings well, faced 86 balls and struck three fours and a six during his stay at the crease.

South Africa were placed in a comfortable position in the context of the chase, and the game is now for them to lose.

Proteas began the chase of 186 with a plan in mind, and both the openers played sensibly to deny the Irish bowlers early.

South African opening stand reached 84 in 22 overs, with both Smith and Verreynne on 42.

Earlier, a great show with the ball enabled South Africa to restrict Ireland to a paltry total of 185 runs in 50 overs in the ninth place play-off match of the ICC U19 CWC in Bangladesh.

Lorcan Tucker was the savior for the Irish on a miserable day, and he carried his bat to score 77 from 98 balls with seven fours and a six. He stood his ground when wickets fell all around him.

For the Proteas, Galiem and Ludick took two wickets each.

South Africa had their opponents down on the mat at 71 for five, but the Irish lower-order offered stiff resistance and enabled their side to come back in the game.

Fiachra Tucker was the seventh wicket to fall for Ireland, when Ludick got his second wicket of the match in the 46 th over. Tucker hung around for half an hour, managed 20 useful runs for his team.

His wicket fell at a decisive moment when Ireland needed some quick runs in the death overs.

Aaron Gillespie fell in the 37th over, and he was run out after playing 41 balls for 12 runs when the chips were down for the Irish lads.

South Africa kept tightening the screws on Ireland by executing their bowling plans extremely well.

South Africa took control of the ninth place play-off match against Ireland by removing the Irish top-order before the halfway stage at Cox’s Bazar.

Ireland lost their fifth wicket, and with it the chance of salvaging their innings when William McClintock was caught for 14.

The twenty-odd runs, after the fall of the fourth wicket pulled back the reins somewhat, but South Africa’s Sipamla struck at the worst possible time for the Irish.

Irish batsmen found boundaries hard to come by, but failed to keep the scoreboard ticking with the ones and twos, and found themselves in a rut of their own making.

Adam Dennison became the fourth Irish batsman to fall, when Willem Ludick struck in the 17 th over. Dennison scored 16 from 39 balls, and got bogged down at the crease.

South Africa piled on the pressure with tight spells, and Ireland looked vulnerable, their batsman playing too many dot balls in a row.

Gary McClintock fell in the 11th over, the third wicket down for the sorry Irish camp today. With only 36 on the board, they are reeling for sure.

Dayyaan Galiem took his second wicket of the day when he found McClintock in front of the stumps after the batsman scored six runs. Umpire didn’t have a tough decision here.

Ireland lost their second batsman early, in the seventh over as the Proteas new-ball bowlers were immaculate in their length. Jack Tector managed 18 from 25 balls, but lacked the temperament to see out the difficult times.

South Africa got their first breakthrough in the sixth over, and their bowlers were rewarded for their persistence. Andrew Austin scored four runs from 11 balls, and was sent back by Wiaan Mulder.

Ireland captain Tector won the toss and decided to bat first against South Africa led by Tony de Zorzi in the ninth place play-off match of the ICC U19 CWC 2016.

Teams

South Africa U19: Tony de Zorzi (capt), Ziyaad Abrahams, Dean Foxcroft, Dayyaan Galiem, Willie Ludick, Wandile Makwethu, Conner McKerr, Rivaldo Moonsamy, Wiaan Mulder, Luke Philander, Farhaan Sayanvala, Lutho Sipamla, Liam Smith, Kyle Verreynne, Sean Whitehead.

Ireland U19: Jack Tector (capt), Rory Anders, Andrew Austin, Varun Chopra, Adam Dennison, Stephen Doheny, Aaron Gillespie, Josh Little, Gary McClintock, William McClintock, Tom Stanton, Harry Tector, Fiachra Tucker, Lorcan Tucker, Ben White.