The Junior Proteas are into the semi-finals of the 2024 ICC U19 Men's Cricket World Cup being played in South Africa.

On Friday, South Africa beat Sri Lanka by 119-runs at the JB Marks Oval in Potchefstroom to secure their place in the last four of the competition.

Sri Lanka won the toss and invited the hosts to have a bat first.

South Africa scored 232/8 in their 50 overs with Lhaun-dré Pretorius scoring 71-runs from 77. At the backend of the innings, it was the seamer Riley Norton who also did well with the willow to score 41-runs. Supun Waduge was the pick of the Sri Lankan bowlers with 2/19 in his 10 overs.

The star of the show was however the seamer Kwena Maphaka once again with another man of the match performance. Mapahaka dismissed the entire top-five of the Sri Lanka batting line-up for his third five-for at the World Cup. He has also become the first player in history to take four five-wicket hauls at Junior World Cup.

Maphaka first with a brilliant 6/21 in 8.2 overs as the visitors were bowled out for 113-runs in 23.2 overs. Norton was just as brilliant with the ball, with the young seamer taking 4/28 in 5 overs.

The Junior Proteas will want to sharpen up on their first over the next couple of days after dropping four catches which at this level where pretty regulation, especially the three put down in the slip-cordon.

South Africa will know by the end of the weekend who they will face in the semi-finals that will be played on 6 and 8 February at Willowmoore Park in Benoni.