Defending champions South Africa crashed out of the ICC U19 World Cup after suffering a shock two-wicket loss against qualifier Namibia in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh on Sunday.
South Africa, batting first, were reduced to 60 for eight by the half-way stage following a four-wicket haul by Michael van Lingen. But Willem Ludick hit 42 in a ninth-wicket stand of 55 runs with Lutho Sipamla as the young Proteas added a further 76 runs.
Defending a modest 136 for nine in 50 overs, South Africa claimed a wicket off the first ball and continued to dismiss batsmen regularly, but Lohan Louwrens stood in the way as he steered Namibia home with an unbeaten 58.
The memorable win meant that Namibia, which finished 14th in the United Arab Emirates two years ago, will improve upon its best finish of 11th in Malaysia in 2008.
In other matches, Bangladesh beat Scotland by 114 runs in Cox’s Bazar for its second win and now clashes with Namibia in the last league match on Tuesday to decide Group A winner.
The winner of Bangladesh-Namibia match will feature in the first quarter-final against Group D runner-up (India or Nepal) in Mirpur on Friday while the side that finishes second in Group A will take on winner of Group D in Fatullah on February 6.
England brushed aside Zimbabwe by 129 runs in Chittagong to top Group C with a third successive win. England will now wait the second-placed team from Group B in the quarter-final on 7 February in Mirpur.
The West Indies romped to a 262-run win over Fiji in another Group C match in Chittagong. It now faces Zimbabwe on Tuesday to determine the second qualifier from the group with the winner meeting Group B champion (Pakistan or Sri Lanka) in Fatullah on February 8.
Image: Namibia players celebrate
Photograph: Twitter