CHITTAGONG – Half-centuries from Keemo Paul and Gidron Pope failed to save West Indies Under-19s from a 61-run loss to England Under-19s in their opening game of the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup yesterday.
Chasing an imposing 283 for victory at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, West Indies collapsed for 221 all out off 43.4 overs, with Paul top-scoring with an aggressive 65 and opener Pope gathering an equally fluent run-a-ball 60.
However, the Caribbean side were hamstrung by the loss of two wickets off the first four deliveries of the innings and never recovered.
Fast bowler Saqib Mahmood tormented the Windies with four for 42, while left-arm seamer Sam Curran (2-23) and leg-spinner Dan Lawrence (2-38) provided support with two wickets apiece.
Earlier, England paced their innings well to reach 282 for seven off their 50 overs, after opting to bat first.
Callum Taylor, with 59 and Lawrence, 55, stroked half-centuries, while George Bartlett struck 48, James Burnham, 44, and Curran, 39.
Pope was the best West Indies bowler, picking up two for 45 with his off-spin.
