Home Sport Cricket Young’s five-wicket haul derails England’s chase

Young’s five-wicket haul derails England’s chase

663

West Indies make it two from two in the Under-19 Cricket World Cup.

Rain halted play twice at the Diamond Oval yesterday, but even that could not prevent the West Indies from making it two in two in the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup. 

First, it was the stunning partnership between Kevlon Anderson and Nyeem Young, and then it was a combined effort by the bowlers, headlined by Young’s fifer, that derailed England’s chase.

The Windies posted 267/7 after England won the toss and sent them in to bat first on what looked like a lively track. The pitch, however, flattened out later in the day, with a bit of bounce on offer for the bowlers who were willing to bend their backs. The English could never get going in their reply and ended on 184, handing the West Indies a 71-run DLS win.

Things did not look good for the West Indies when they lost their first wicket on 47, when the captain, Kimani Melius, was caught by Jack Hayes off the bowling of Hami Qadri for 24. Things seemed to be unravelling fast when, after 22 overs, the West Indies were on 100/3, their run rate dropping from 5.4 to 4.3 when the spin bowlers started operating.

They were losing wickets at regular intervals and the English were in the ascendency reducing the Windies to 139/5 after 35 overs.

 However, Anderson (86) and Nyeem Young (66) put on an excellent partnership of 101 for the sixth wicket, before Young was well caught on the boundary in the 47th over. 

The best of the England bowlers were Hami Qadri 2/46 and Lewis Goldsworthy 2/28.

Chasing a target of 268, England’s opening batsmen, Ben Charlesworth, son of Graham Charlesworth, who played for Griquas and coached at Kimberley Boys High in the mid-80s, and wicketkeeper, Jordan Cox started off well.  The opening stand realised a useful 53, with Charlesworth leading from the front, scoring quite briskly, although the run rate was well below what was required. 

But Cox was first to go caught at slip for 20, followed a few overs later by Charlesworth for a patient 36, with the total on 69. England were batting at a very slow pace at 4.1 runs per over while the required rate was sitting at 7. 

Due to some tight and accurate bowling from the West Indies they restricted England’s scoring chances, and kept taking wickets all the while. Before long with their score on 131/5 a passing shower stopped play briefly. Unfortunately, when the game restarted the English tail did not wag much and they were bowled out for 184. 

Their best batsmen were Ben Charlesworth 36, Jordan Cox 20, Jack Haynes 27 and Kasey Alridge 21. While Young’s 5/45 stole the show, giving him his second consecutive Man of the Match award. Ashmead Nedd (2/35) also shone with the ball.  

Previous articleANC mourns loss of mayor
Next articleThe Ghost dare to dream again