Windies lift ICC U-19 title
Indian batsmen
fail to negotiate
Caribbean pacers
Sports Reporter
While the cricket has been struggling to keep its existence in the Caribbean Islands, West Indies youngsters showed the light at the end of the tunnel by winning the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup for the first time in the tournaments history.
The West Indian fast bowlers tore apart the much-vaunted Indian batting line up in a sensational fast bowling, an effort that rekindled the memory of 80s fearsome fast bowling troop. They thereafter romped to a five-wicket victory with three balls to spare thanks to a stubborn batting in a spicy wicket at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium yesterday. The final of the 11th edition of the tournament was tagged as the game of fast bowling troop vs highly talented batting line up. Both teams went by their strength after which the fast bowlers prevailed but the effort that Keacy Carty showed, should book a place in the folklore of the tournament.
His unbeaten 52 off 125 and undefeated 66 runs fifth wicket partnership with Keemo Paul (36*) sealed the deal after India were shot out for 145 in 45.1 overs. Co-incidentally, the winning run came from the willow of Paul, the boy who mankaded Zimbabwe to secure his teams place in the quarter-final.
Indian fast bowlers werent as terrifying as the West Indian but they came up with a spirited performance with just 145 runs on the board. Avesh Khan made the breakthrough in his first spell, a normalcy for him in the tournament and rightly drew the blood in the third over, removing Gidron Pope, the dangerman, for 3.
Khalil Ahmed then left West Indies 28 for two, getting rid of Tevin Imlach after which skipper Shimron Hetmyer and Keacy Carty steadied the ship with 39 runs for the third wicket. As it seemed, West Indies would be untroubled in its bid to win the maiden title, left arm spinner Mayank Dagar jeopardised them with triple strike in the space of just 10 runs to reel the Caribbean to 77 for five.
The game was hung in balance in the moment but Carty refused to knuckle down. With Keemo Paul coming with a handy support to him, he showed the perseverance what Shamar Springer did in the last match against Bangladesh to help the side move into the final.
The job was half done by the fast bowlers. After winning the toss in the wicket what looked lush green even from the press box, Shimron Hetmyer didnt wait to unleash his hungry and inform fast bowlers to the Indian batsmen.
Hetmyer didnt use a single slow bowler in the match, a rare scene in sub-continent wicket. He used his five fast bowlers at a stretch and choked Indian mighty batsmen theatrically.
The Indias day however began bizarrely with Rishabh Pant wandering outside his crease, only to find wicketkeeper Tevin Imlach flick an underarm throw back to the stumps to catch him unaware. It set the tone of the match indeed.
While Cheamer Holder delivered eight overs at stretch to suffocate the Indian batsmen, Alzarri Joseph and Ryan John took regular wickets to keep the hot-favourite India at bay. Both Joseph (three for 39) and John (three for 38) shared six wickets evenly. Keemo Paul claimed two while Holder and Shamar Springer took one each.
They bowled with undying desire and forced the batsmen jump and fend, with a barrage of short balls and bouncers. They conceded as many as 23 extra runs.
The only Indian batsman could fight hard against a spirited bowling line up was Sarfaraz Khan. He brought up his fifth fifty plus scores in the tournament by hitting 51 off 89 with five fours and one six. His knock and West Indies bowlers extra runs made sure India would come close to 150 runs mark.
