The one thing, Merrick Brett relishes as a fast bowler is to duel it out with a batsman with him, in the end, getting the wicket. 

Seeing his "foe" take the long walk back to the dressing room is something he never gets tired of. Especially if he knows his bowling prowess helped changed the outcome of the game. 

Yesterday in Potchefstroom was a good day in the office for the young Assupol Tuks bowler. The South African under-19 cricket team revived their hopes of qualifying for the World Cup final by beating Canada by 150 runs. They so needed the victory.  The team got clobbered by Afghanistan in their first outing. Another loss certainly would have ended their campaign. 

Brett got the opening batsman Mihar Patel to take the long walk back just as he seemed to be settling in at the crease. He struck again four overs later sending Akhil Kumar on his way. He ended up with bowling figures of 2/32.  It was his first World Cup appearance. 

Tomorrow in Bloemfontein, the South Africans are playing the United Arab Emirates in what again is another must-win encounter. 

It could be said that Brett had hardly learned to walk when he started playing cricket. He remembers getting his first cricket kit when four years old. He got hooked with the first touch of hand to ball and bat. 

Many might consider him as being a pure fast bowler and with good reason. During a game, one, of his deliveries was "clocked" at 138km/ph. The Tuks bowler, however, strives to be more than merely a recognised wicket-taker. 

"I see myself more as a bowler who really can bat. Currently, for South Africa, I am batting at number eight. I think if I put my mind to it, I might get to eventually bat at number five or six.

"What I love about bowling is that you got to try and keep the batsmen guessing all the time. They should never be at ease at the crease. I can get the ball to swing both ways, although my away swinger is a slightly better delivery. The biggest rush for any bowler is when the ball hit the stumps, sending it cartwheeling through the air."

Brett admits that he and his teammates have their work cut out to try and qualify to play the World Cup final.

"We did not have the best build-up to the tournament. Getting to lose against Afghanistan was also not good for our morale, but I believe our game against Canada was the turning point. The important thing, for now, is not to get ahead of ourselves. It might be a cliche, but there is truth in taking it one game at a time." 

The Assupol Tuks player matriculated last year at Midstream College. He represented Northerns under-17 in 2018. His performance merited him being selected for the SA Schools team. Last year he played at the Coca-Cola Khaya Majola Cricket Week. He ended up taking a total of eight wickets during the tournament.