ABU DHABI – West Indies resurrected their campaign at the ICC Under-19 World Cup with a crushing 167-run win over Zimbabwe in a Group C fixture at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi, yesterday.
After misfiring with the bat in its 94-run loss to South Africa in the tournament opener, West Indies came up with a much improved show after opting to bat first.
Leading the way was Tagenarine Chanderpaul, son of Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who made an unbeaten 84 in the team’s total of 275 for six in 50 overs.
The new ball pair of Jerome Jones and Ray Jordan carried forward the good work to rip through Zimbabwe’s top order in no time. At 21 for four inside the first ten overs, Zimbabwe needed a miracle of sorts to just reduce the margin of defeat.
But that wasn’t to be as Preston McSween returned figures of three for 14 as Zimbabwe folded up for 108 in 39.4 overs.
What was heartening for West Indies was the resolve shown by the batsmen after being bowled for out a paltry 104 against South Africa on Friday. Each of the top six got off to starts, but the platform of the innings was built on two important partnerships.
Tagenarine and Shimron Hetmyer put on 69 for the opening wicket, but the foundation was strengthened during the third-wicket association of 74 between Tagenarine and Jonathan Drakes of Barbados.
Drakes made a 54-ball 50, but cameos from Nicolas Pooran and Brandon King helped West Indies smash 68 off the last six overs and finish with a competitive total.
With the heart of the Zimbabwe’s batting order back in the hut inside the Power Play overs, Kieran Geyle, the No. 8 batsman, did his credentials no harm by scoring an unbeaten 63-ball 45. With just two other batsmen crossing double figures, Geyle could merely delay the inevitable as Jordan hammered the final nail in the coffin with the wicket of Herbert Chikomba.
(CMC)
