Rising Otago star Hugo Bogue is showing promising signs ahead of the under-19 world cup.
Bogue thrashed a rapid century to guide the Baby Black Caps to a 114-run win over Zimbabwe in a warm-up game in Masvingo, the city in southeastern Zimbabwe formerly known as Fort Victoria, yesterday.
The Albion opener smashed 13 fours and seven sixes in his 75-ball 115.
Bogue had some familiar company, too.
New Zealand under-19 captain Tom Jones, who scored a century on his Plunket Shield debut for the Volts, made 40 off 36 balls as the Otago pair added 120 for the second wicket.
Bogue fell with the score at 192 for five but valuable contributions from Jacob Cotter (54) and Brandon Matzopoulous (43) carried the New Zealanders to 332 all out with 3.1 overs remaining.
Brendon Senzere made an unbeaten 66 in reply but Zimbabwe were never in the hunt, after losing early wickets.
Harry Burns (three for 43) and Callum Samson (two for 15) were the best of the New Zealand bowlers as Zimbabwe were bowled out for 218 in the 41st over.
Bogue scored 34 off 29 balls and Jones cracked 50 off 48 in New Zealand’s loss to England in their first warm-up game.
England are captained by spin sensation Farhan Ahmed, who took a 10-wicket bag in his county cricket debut at 16 and has a T20 hat-trick.
Pace bowler Mason Clarke is the third Otago player in the squad.
Indian sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who smashed a 38-ball 101 in an IPL game last year at the age of 14 and followed with the fastest 150 in men’s List A cricket (59 balls), will attract the most attention at the tournament.
New Zealand’s first game at the under-19 world cup is against the United States on Sunday.
