West indies Under-19s win by six runs

DHAKA: West Indies Under-19s survived a scare and won their opening Youth World Cup (YWC) game against little-rated Ireland by six runs at the Khulna Division Stadium yesterday. In-form Xavier Marshall top scored with 83 as the West Indies lashed 265 for eight off their 50 overs, and held on for the win in the Group D match as the Irish boldly threatened the target before finishing on 259 for nine off 50 overs. “They really surprised the West Indies,” West Indies coach Clyde Butts told CMC Sport. “I don’t think West Indies bargained for the way how Ireland played, I think they played some good cricket, they played some positive cricket,” Butts added.

West Indies were without their top bowler Ravi Rampaul, who is suffering from a virus. Marshall, with a blazing 83 off 81 balls, and Tishan Maraj (38) gave the West Indies a rousing start after they elected to bat, posting a whopping 122 runs for the first wicket at a rate of about seven runs an over. Marshall hit 15 fours and one six and Maraj stroked five boundaries, but the West Indies lost the momentum after they were separated. Jonathan Augustus (30) and Assad Fudadin (29) were the only other significant scorers, although number nine batsman Mervyn Matthew smashed 17 off eight balls to lift the late-order run-rate. “I think after the start that Marshall and Maraj gave us, I am a little disappointed that we only got 265, I don’t think any of the other batsmen really stayed out to bat long enough, they didn’t build on that sort of start,” Butts said.

Greg Thompson, a 16-year-old leg-spinner, led Ireland’s bowling with five for 49 off ten overs, and medium pacer Andrew Riddles picked up three for 42 off seven overs. Ireland approached the run chase positively, led by a sizzling run-a-ball 95 from Kevin O’Brien. The right-hander stroked 13 fours and one six, and shared in a 93-run third wicket stand with Gary Wilson (64). They suffered three run-outs and fell short of the target. “We didn’t bowl as well as we are capable, we bowled in patches, but I am not going to take anything away from the Irish, I thought they played good cricket,” Butts said. Lendl Simmons (2/48) and Lionel Baker (2/55) were the top bowlers for the West Indies, who tackle Papua New Guinea tomorrow, and Pakistan — in what is expected to be the group decider — on Friday.