Exciting cricket awaits sports fans in Bloemfontein when games in the International Cricket Council (ICC) U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup will be played at the Mangaung Oval later this month.
Bloemfontein is one of five host venues for the 41 matches that will take place from 19 January. Ten of these matches will be played in Bloemfontein, all of which are in Group A.
The first match that will be decided locally is between Ireland and America on 19 January, followed by a match between Bangladesh and India on 20 January.
Bangladesh will face Ireland on 22 January, with India taking on Ireland on 25 January, and America playing against Bangladesh on 26 January. The final match in the first round is scheduled for 28 January, when India will face off against America in Bloemfontein.
Group matches between the winners of the four groups will be arranged with playoffs on the Mangaung Oval taking place on 30 and 31 January, then 2 and 3 February. These will be the super rounds between groups A and D (Afghanistan, Pakistan, New Zealand, and Nepal).
South Africa will play in Group B along with England, the West Indies, and Scotland.
The young Proteas, led by captain David Teeger, will be eager to start with a victory, with no shortage of excitement amongst the team members. The team will play their first match on opening day on 19 January in Potchefstroom against the West Indies.
Kimberley will host the matches for Group C which include Australia, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, and Namibia as well as some of the matches in the super rounds for groups B and C.
The final will be played on 11 February at Willowmoore Park in Benoni. Other venues for matches in the series are the JB Marks Oval in Potchefstroom and Buffalo Park in East London.
Although local audiences will not get to see the South African players in action in Bloemfontein, they will have the opportunity to see teams from Bangladesh and India in top form. Additionally, the possibility of seeing the New Zealand team in the semi-finals on local turf still exists.
