A left-handed Rabada, an Aussie workhorse, Pakistani prodigies and Raj from Rann of Kutch: The speedsters who set the U19 World Cup on fire

It was with incisive spells and a workhorse’s plod that these speedsters set the junior World Cup on fire. They wound up with a bagful of wickets along the way.

Kwena Maphaka (South Africa)

M-6, W – 21

At 17, Kwena Maphaka played his second U-19 World Cup and ended the tournament with the most number of scalps. The left-arm quick came close to equalling the record of most wickets at one edition but fell just one short of the mark of 22 wickets which was set by Bangladesh’s Enamul Haque Jr in 2014. The youngster caught the eye in his home U-19 World Cup with his fiery inswinging yorkers and quick bouncers. He has already been called a left-handed Rabada. Given that Maphaka went to the same school, the comparisons with fellow St Stithians alumnus Rabada are expected. Maphaka is not as tall as Rabada but is more explosive and there is certainly more aggression in his bowling.

Ali Raza (Pakistan)

M-3, W -9

The 15-year-old pacer from Pakistan took his country agonisingly close to the final. Raza’s splendid spell of 4 for 34 was not enough as Australia pipped Pakistan by a solitary wicket. Despite the loss, in Raza, Pakistan has unearthed a gem that Ian Bishop feels if nurtured carefully can become a superstar in the future. The teenager had also played a pivotal role in Pakistan’s five-run win over Bangladesh in the Super Six. It was his spell that shifted the momentum towards Pakistan.