THE fast bowler and matriculant of the St. Andrew’s school in Bloemfontein, Keagan Rafferty has what it takes to become one of the country’s best bowlers and a place in the Protea squad is not out of the question in the near future. This is a mouthful, but the way Rafferty demoralized the Zimbabwian u.19 batting line-up at a recent one day series in Zimbabwe (Harare) against South Africa (u.19) can only have a positive future result.
Rafferty, who didn’t give the Mugabe-men much breathing space, played in only the first three of the five one day series matches. South Africa clinched the series with three victories in the first three matches and Ray Jennings (Coach) decided it was time to give Rafferty a breather and used the second best in the remaining two matches.
Zimbabwe’s openers got a taste of the tight Rafferty missiles in the first match when he took three wickets for only 21 runs in his allotted ten overs. As early as in the fourth over, Rafferty got rid of Dean Mazhawidsa (caught by David Bunn) for only four runs.
In the fifth over, Rafferty sent the Zimbabwe danger man, Peter Moor to the showers for a mere seven runs (caught by Riyaad Henry). By the way, Henry is the son of the former South African off-spinner and convener of the Protea selectors.
Rafferty completed his three wicket haul in the 14th over when he caught Gary Chirimuta leg before wicket for six runs. South Africa won the match by 76 runs after setting Zimbabwe a target of 170 runs to win. Zimbabwe could only manage 94 runs, all out.
In comparison to the above mentioned Rafferty-figures, he had a quiet spell in the second match of the series. He could “only” manage one wicket for 42 runs.
The third match saw Rafferty on the rampage and he wrote bowling figures behind his name which many a bowler can only dream of – five wickets for only 31 runs!
Even more impressive – these figures were against the core of the Zimbabwian batting attack and not against their tail enders.
Brian Chari (1 run), T.C. Mutombodzi (1 run), Gary Chirimuta (2 runs), T.G. Mora (19 runs) and Simon Mugava (35-lopies) all saw Rafferty’s name behind their names as wicket taker.
Some more salt in the Zim-wounds – Rafferty ran out the Zimbabwian opening batsman, Kevin Hook for 14 runs only, as well.
South Africa batted first in this encounter and went into the change rooms with a massive score of 346/6. The Zimbabweans were all out for 146 in the 36 th over.
The cherry on Rafferty’s Zim-tour cake was that he still had petrol in the tank left to take two wickets a piece in the two Twenty20 matches against our next door neighbours.
By Rufus Botha
