WI youth captain hits 117 n.o.

KARACHI: West Indies Under-19 captain, Leon Johnson cracked an excellent, unbeaten century as the regional side beat the Pakistan Under-19s by seven runs to level their four-match series at 1-1 yesterday. Playing at the National Bank of Pakistan Sports Complex, the left-handed Johnson hit 117 as the West Indies reached 260 all out in 50 overs, after losing the toss and being asked to take first knock. In reply, Pakistan could only muster 253 all out in 49 overs.

Johnson, who has already played two First-Class senior team matches for Guyana, faced 127 balls and hammered 14 fours in his innings that kept his side afloat. He shared a 110-run, fifth wicket stand with Kieron Pollard who slammed 52 from 65 balls, including two fours and two sixes. However when Pollard went, the regional side lost their last five wickets for just 18 runs with three run-outs coming late in the innings. Anwar Ali grabbed three for 42 to be the home side’s best bowler. In reply, Pakistan got off to a good start with Ali Khan (39) and Nasir Jamshed (33) adding 59 for the opening stand.

Pakistan lost their way however to slip to 134 for five, before a 69-run, sixth-wicket stand between Mohammed Ibrahim and Sarfraz Ahmed revived the innings. Ibrahim top scored with 56 from 89 balls while Ahmed got 34 from 45 balls. Jamshed Ahmed scored a cameo 20 from 23 balls at the end but it was not enough to deny the West Indians. Off spinner Rishi Bachan grabbed four for 46 to lead the West Indies attack. The West Indies won a warm-up match prior to the start of the four-match series on Friday before losing the first official match of the series to Pakistan on Sunday. (CMC)