Date-stamped : 17 Jan1998 - 10:18 17 Jan 1998 Under/19 Cup draw favours South Africa Trevor Chesterfield Joannesburg - South Africa head for St George's Park in Port Elizabeth today in the second stage of their bid to reach the final of the under-19 World Cup on February 1. While these were the bald facts emerging from the draw of the MTN sponsored event yesterday after eight test countries reached the Super League, the minnows found themselves grappling with the smaller venues and opposition that should not raise too much of a sweat for the more fancied in the plate event. The exception is the West Indies who have not had a memorable tournament. Apart from the match involving the ever-willing Papua-New Guineans, who provided the calamitous Windies expedition with the sort of cannon fodder expected of one of the weaker associate ICC member nations, it has not been easy for a side coached by Gus Logie. It has been argued that on their current erratic barometer form the good ship West Indies will not even play in the plate final. Thursday's five wicket defeat wasn't quite the result the Caribbean management expected. But their whole campaign has been fraught with self-inflicted problems which have more to do with age qualification than a lack of skills. Their initial side was based on the age qualifications for the ICC associate member countries and not those issued for full test member countries. While the South African management are "comfortable with the draw and the venues" it has not been fixed, as some might think, to give the side home ground advantage. They are now most likely to play left-arm wrist-spinner Goolam Bodi at St George's Park. South Africa have been placed in the Graeme Pollock Pool along with their main rivals New Zealand as well as Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe. There are some who are lamenting that India have been placed in the Basil D'Oliveira Pool, along with Pakistan, who must fancy their hopes of reaching the final. It was argued, however, that teams playing in the same prelimianry league matches should not compete in the same super leage divisions. Although Zimbabwe are the "minnows" of the Super League they cannot be overlooked. Their captain, Mark Vermuelen has scored most runs with 244 and Mulaleki Nkala, a 16-year-old fast bowler whose five wickets against West Indies on Thursday took his tally to 12 in three matches and the leading wicket-taker in the tournament. The Super League Series open at Centurion Park on Monday with the England-Pakistan match followed on Tuesday when India meet Australia - two key games in the Basil D'Oliveira Pool. All matches are being televised. Trevor Chesterfield Cricket writer Pretoria News tche@ptn.independent.co.za Contributed by The Management (help@cricinfo.com)