Young Windies demolish Kiwis

Batting first after being sent in, West Indies piled up an imposing 310 for eight off their 50 overs, with opener Richard Ramdeen slamming the top score of 70.

In reply, off spinner Sunil Narine and medium pacer Nelon Pascal grabbed three wickets each as New Zealand crashed for 180 off 42.5 overs.

West Indies did not have the best of starts when they lost Andre Fletcher cheaply for seven with the score on 29 but captain Leon Johnson restored the regional side’s dominance by adding 62 for the second wicket.

Johnson smashed 36 from 29 balls with five fours and a six while Ramdeen’s 70 came required 102 balls and included nine fours and two sixes.

When Johnson departed, Ramdeen shared another enterprising stand of 78 for the third wicket with Jason Mohammed, whose 33 came from 42 balls and contained five fours and one six.

Gajanand Singh weighed in with 59 from 48 balls with six fours and two sixes but two quick strikes by left arm slow bowler Jason Donnelly left West Indies struggling at 186 for six.

But a cameo 39-ball 46 from Andre McCarthy with three fours and four sixes, and a 28-ball, unbeaten 25 from Sunil Narine, gave the innings impetus.

In response, New Zealand struggled from the outset with only opener Todd Astle, who batted 175 balls for 56, showing any resistance as Narine grabbed three for 29 and Pascal, three for 48.

West Indies play their first match of the Youth World Cup on Monday when they clash with the United States at the Nondescripts Cricket Club Ground, Colombo.