Bosch grows of age with U19 World Cup final show after always feeling ‘inferior’ to his late father

The fast bowler grows of age after making it big when it mattered the most for his team with a four-wicket haul.

Corbin Bosch was quietly motivated by the memories of his late father during the Under 19 World Cup. Jeffrey E Biteng / The National

DUBAI // If a cricket World Cup success has been long overdue in South Africa as a whole, nowhere will it be received with greater poignancy than in the household of Corbin Bosch.

The slightly-built seam bowler emerged from the shadows of his more extrovert teammates at just the right time, taking four for 15 and the man-of-the-match award in the final.

The quiet achiever of the world champion side was being sustained by added motivation throughout this campaign.

It was the anniversary of his father’s death when his South Africa side played against the West Indies on February 14.

He was just five years old when Tertius Bosch, a fast bowler who was said to rival Allan Donald as the fastest bowler in South Africa, passed away.

Bosch Jr said his performance in the final success over Pakistan was a tribute to his late father.

“Growing up I have always felt inferior to what he has done,” said the 19-year-old pace bowler. “I wasn’t the best cricketer. As I grew as a person, not just as a cricketer, it made me that much more hungry to succeed.

“I want to play for him, it is not just an honour but a huge privilege.

“Since then, everything has catapulted and I have had this huge belief that I have been playing here because of him.

“He was the reason I started playing cricket, he is the reason why I love it to this day.”

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