An absolutely destructive batting display from Steve Stolk (86 off 37 balls) and Dewan Marais (80* off 50 balls) took South Africa to a memorable 7-wicket win against Scotland on Saturday, 27 January at the J.B. Marks Oval, to top group B.

South Africa needed to chase down Scotland’s total of 269/9 inside 30 overs to top the group, and needed to at least win to advance to the Super Six stage.

They did this handsomely with Stolk and Marais blasting the ball to all parts of the J.B. Marks Oval. Stolk hit Scotland spinner, Qasim Khan for five sixes and a four in an over, to reach his 50 off just 13 balls – a new u.19 World Cup record beating the previous best of 50 from 18 balls from India’s Rishabh Pant.

Stolk’s innings showed why he was called up to the Pretoria Capitals for this year’s SA20 competition. He flexed his muscles hitting 8 sixes and 7 fours in his innings at a strike rate of 232.

Marais went on where Stolk left off to hit his second fifty of the competition. Marais smashed 3 sixes and 8 fours in his knock.

Scotland had earlier put the SA bowlers under pressure in their innings of 269/9 where Jamie Dunk (90 off 120 balls) and Owen Gould (97 off 89 balls) played superb innings.

It was though not be enough as SA showed intent in a batting display that will not only build confidence, but has also placed them in a more favourable position.

They will now stay in Potch for the Super Six campaign and won’t have to play the top ranked team from group C, which will most likely be Australia

They will face Zimbabwe on Wednesday, 31 January, before taking on Sri Lanka on Friday, 2 February. The top two teams in the Super Six phase out of group 1 and 2 will meet up in the semi-finals.