(Web Desk) - The South Africa pacer claimed one tournament record as he finished the Under 19 World Cup with 21 wickets at an average of just 9.71.
While South Africa fell agonisingly short in their quest for a second ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup title, fast bowler Kwena Maphaka proved he was a player of immense promise as he broke a tournament record and equalled another following his 21 wickets at the event.
The Proteas were bundled out of the tournament in a thrilling semi-final against India in Benoni on Tuesday when they fell to a narrow two-wicket loss, but the performances of Maphaka over the course of the event will at least provide South Africa with some optimism that they have found a bowler that appears capable of stepping up to senior international cricket in the future.
Maphaka picked up figures of 3/32 in the cut-throat semi-final, with his delivery to dismiss India opener Adarsh Singh with the first ball of the run chase a sharp, rising delivery that caught the edge and would surely be in contention for ball of the tournament.
It was one of 21 scalps the South Africa left-armer collected throughout the tournament, with the 17-year-old going extremely close to equalling the record of 22 wickets by Bangladesh's Enamul Haque jnr (2014) for most wickets at one edition of the Under 19 World Cup.
Maphaka did however break the record for most five-wicket hauls at the event, with the young quick picking up 5/38 against the West Indies, 5/34 against Zimbabwe and then 6/21 during South Africa's penultimate match at the tournament against Sri Lanka that helped the Proteas qualify for the knockout stages.
Previously only four players had collected two five-wicket hauls at an Under 19 World Cup, with Maphaka's trio of five-fors surpassing efforts by Sri Lanka's Dunith Wellalage (2022), Afghanistan's Shafiqullah Ghafari (2020) and Pakistan duo Anwar Ali (2006) and Riaz Afridi (2004).
Having taken seven wickets at his first appearance at the tournament in 2022 when just 15, Maphaka ties Zimbabwe's Wessly Madhevere for the most wickets in the history of the Under 19 World Cup with 28 scalps.
Madhevere achieved his haul from a total of 18 matches at three editions of the tournament in 2016, 2018 and 2020, while Maphaka can lay claim to equalling the record in a shorter period of time having featured in just nine matches in total at the Under 19 World Cup.
Maphaka also finishes his Under 19 World Cup career with an imposing average of 11.85, with his average at this year's event even lower at 9.71 and it's no surprise that the comparisons have already been drawn with seasoned South Africa quick Kagiso Rabada.