South African U-19 speedster Kwena Maphaka has taken the ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup by storm with his match-winning performance in the hosts’ opening match against the West Indies at Potchefstroom with the Proteas winning the match by 31 runs Maphaka likened himself to Jasprit Bumrah after the win.
Kwena Maphaka registered a sensational 5-wicket haul and was adjudged as the man of the match for figures of 5/38 while defending a total of 286. The youngster generated raw pace and bewildered the opposing batters with his exquisite line length as well as bouncers.
He is among the next generation of deadly South Africa pacers and continues the lineage of Shaun Pollock, Allan Donald, Makhaya Ntini, Dale Steyn, and Kagiso Rabada among others. And Maphaka showed glimpses of possibly going on to become one of the best in the world yesterday.
One of the most noticeable things about him was his celebration after picking wickets. It clearly resembled to that of India’s star pacer Jasprit Bumrah who usually spreads his arm wide in a gesture that has a lot of cryptic messages. It will be fair to say that Kwena Maphaka is somehow following the footsteps of Bumrah at least in terms of his pace and celebration.
While speaking to the ICC after the match, Maphaka claimed that he had asked his brother to suggest a celebration for him before the World Cup and that was when he decided to pull off the Bumrah celebration. “I actually asked my brother for a celebration to give me just before the World Cup. And he just said I have no clue. I don’t know. I said you know what, that sounds good. Let me go with the “I don’t know” celebration,” Kwena Maphaka told ICC.
Maphaka’s 5-wicket haul came in the back of South African batters posting a mammoth 286 for West Indies to chase. Middle-order batter Dewan Marais’ 65 off 38 and top-order batters Lhuan-dre Pretorius and David Teeger scored 40 and 44 while captain Juan James finishing act of 47 off 54 helped the hosts secure a very safe total.
In response, the West Indies batting line-up did not start off well and lost 6 wickets for just 190. It took a brilliant 96-ball 130 from wicket-keeper Jewel Andrew to help them get close to the total before eventually getting all out for 254.
“Hopefully I’m Better Than You” – Kwena Maphaka’s Message To Bumrah
The reason why West Indies batters failed to start well was Kwena Maphaka who was breathing fire right from his first ball. He led to the removal of the Windies top 3 for a combined 15 runs before completing a fifer with the wickets of 2 tailenders.
While discussing about his Bumrah celebration, Maphaka also gave a message to the Indian pacer claiming that hopefully, he is better than him before speaking about the win against West Indies. “Jasprit Bumrah you’re a great bowler. Hopefully, I am better than you.”
“Its definitely a great way to get the World cup started off. We knew we had it in us. We were just waiting for that performance. I am happy it could come out today and hopefully a few more,” Kwena Maphaka concluded.
Meanwhile, South Africa’s next U-19 CWC clash will see them lock horns against England on January 23.