Windies U-19s chase W/Cup glory

DHAKA: The stage is set for a thrilling climax to the ICC Youth World Cup Bangladesh 2004 when Young West Indies and Young Pakistan meet in the day/night final at the Bangabandhu National Stadium today. Both teams had convincing victories in the semi-finals. Sub-continental titans Pakistan secured their spot with a breathtaking five-wicket victory over arch-rivals India in the first semi-final on Sunday last and West Indies stunned England by 94 runs in the second semi-final on Tuesday.

Uppermost in the minds of the two teams however, will be their previous match in the competition in the final round of the group stages, when Pakistan dismissed West Indies for 88 to complete a 163-run victory. No doubt this will inspire the Pakistanis that they may have West Indies’ number, but it also provides the backdrop for Dinesh Ramdin’s side to hit back hard and prove that they have come a long way as Windies coach Clyde Butts believes. “We are taking one match at a time and we acknowledge that that was a huge loss to Pakistan,” Butts told CMC Radio Sports. “I think coming out of that match, we have played better and better as the competition has progressed. Right now, I think we are at full throttle and I believe it will be a good match.”