A run-out on the second-last ball of the final over gave the West Indies a confidence-boosting one-run victory over Bangladesh in a Group D match in the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup 2010 at Fitzherbert Park, Palmerston North on Sunday.
The West Indies’ victory now sets up an intriguing contest in the group, with the two sides along with Pakistan now battling for the two available places in the Super League series.
In Christchurch, rain delayed the start of both games but the weather didn’t deter Sri Lanka and India who both secured comfortable wins over Zimbabwe and Hong Kong, respectively.
However, the biggest win of the day came in Queenstown where Australia defeated Ireland by 209 runs.
Meanwhile, in the feature match of the day involving two of the Full Members, Bangladesh needed seven runs off the last over with two wickets standing after being set a target of 249 runs by the West Indies.
Tall right-arm quick Jason Holder was hit for a boundary off the second ball but came back strongly to bowl top-scorer Tasamul Haque on the next delivery. With two runs needed from three balls, Shaker Ahmed attempted a risky bye but was run-out by wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich, igniting wild celebrations in the West Indies’ camp.
Earlier, the West Indies, put into bat, made a shaky start when it was reduced to 20-3 in the sixth over, including the first over run-out of opener Trevon Griffith without facing a delivery.
Captain Andre Creary (55) and Yannic Cariah (44) defended well against the slow bowlers and added 89 runs for the fourth wicket before Creary was bowled by Mahmudul Hasan.
The West Indies batsmen scored steadily through the middle and late overs, with Jermaine Blackwood battering 48 off 28 balls with two fours and four sixes.
Bangladesh used five spin bowlers in an attempt to strangle the West Indies scoring but the batsmen worked them into the gaps well to reach a defendable total of 249-8.
In its target chase, Bangladesh lost half the side in 30 overs with the scorecard showing 114 before Shabbir Rahman (53) and Tasamul Haque (54) put the Asian side back on track with a 73-run stand in little over 11 overs.
However, the West Indies held its nerve in the closing stages to bounce back well after a 40-run defeat against Pakistan in the opener on Friday and collect maximum points from its second game.
Man of the Match Cariah, who backed up his 44 with 2-38, said: “It was a bit nervous, but we held our nerve and it was very good to come away with the victory today.
“It was a team effort and we still have room for improvement but we’re excited to get a win in the World Cup.”
In Queenstown, Australian batsman Alex Keath started his 18th birthday celebrations three days early by hitting an attractive 88 to lead his team to 209 runs victory over Ireland.
Put in to bat by Ireland, Australia started briskly with opener Tom Beaton clubbing five fours and a six in a 45-ball 53 before being stumped off George Dockrell.
After Australia slipped to 114-4 in 23.3 overs, Keath and Tim Armstrong (73 not out) took advantage of Ireland’s sloppy fielding to put on 115 runs for the fifth wicket. Armstrong’s 77-ball innings included five fours and two sixes while an unbeaten 14-ball 24 from Kane Richardson ensured Australia finished with 274-5 as the two batsmen added 45 runs for the unfinished sixth wicket in four overs.
Ireland simply had no answer to the uncompromising Australians. Fast bowler Kane Richardson took two quick wickets as Ireland slumped to 65 all out in less than 25 overs.
Ireland lost its last eight wickets for 25 runs as opener Stuart Thompson (19) and Ben Ackland (11) were the only batsmen to reach double figures.
Richardson finished as the pick of Australia bowlers with 3-23 while Nick Buchanan destroyed the middle-order with 4-16.
Skipper Marsh praised the middle-order for rising to the occasion after his side was in a bit of bother at 76-3. “Keath showed a lot of maturity. He batted beautifully the whole innings, which was what we needed. And for Timmy to have a little cameo at the end and finish off for us is what he’s in the team for.
“The boys bowled well and bowled at one side of the wicket, which in this type of cricket – if you do that well enough, you’re obviously going to take wickets. I thought we fielded well and bowled well and the result came our way,” he said.
Rain delayed the start of Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe match which was reduced to 34 overs a side. Batting first, Zimbabwe struggled against Sri Lanka fast bowlers and looked out of the game at 44-7, until a brave 47-run stand for the eighth wicket between Tino Mutombodzi (42 not out) and Simon Mugava (21) brought some respectability to the total. Zimbabwe was eventually all out for 121 with three balls remaining.
Sri Lanka’s chase was no easy task as it faced a belligerent opening spell from the Zimbabwe pace bowlers. Udara Jayasundera (30) and Adri Berenger (16) withstood the barrage, however, and accumulated 35 runs off 10 overs.
Both fell to smart catches by wicketkeeper Dean Mashawidza off Nathan Waller but Banuka Rajapaksa (19 not out) and Rumesh Buddika (49 not out) finished the match without being separated.
Sri Lanka was quick to shift its focus to Monday’s match against Canada with captain Chatura Peiris expecting a similar performance from his side. “Canada is a good team as it defeated Zimbabwe on Friday.
“Our bowlers went really well today while our batting and fielding was good. I am hoping for a repeat performance tomorrow.”
In Christchurch, defending champion India completed a comfortable nine-wicket victory over Hong Kong in a match reduced to 34 overs a side.
India’s opening pair Mayank Agarwal (63) and Rahul Kannaur (62) did most of the work, posting 50 in 30 minutes and then seeing the side through to 119 before Agarwal departed. Rahul and Mandeep Singh achieved the 144-run victory target in 24 overs.
Earlier, Hong Kong, put into bat, was bowled out for 143 in 33.5 overs after being 19-4 at one stage. Hong Kong’s total rallied around a 54-run fifth wicket partnership between Jamie Atkinson (39) and Mark Chapman (27) before a late charge by Aizaz Khan, who scored 20 runs from a Saurav Netrawalkar over, helped Hong Kong to its eventual score.
Tomorrow’s matches see England take on qualifier Afghanistan at Queen Elizabeth II Park in Christchurch, while Sri Lanka is back in action again, against Canada at Lincoln No. 3.
Scores in brief:
India beat Hong Kong by nine wickets at Hagley Park, Christchurch (Group A)
Match reduced to 34 overs per side
Hong Kong 143 all out, 33.5 overs (Jamie Atkinson 39; Sandeep Sharma 3-11, Gaurav Jathar 3-27)
India 147-1, 24 overs (Mayank Agarwal 63, Rahul Kannaur 62 not out) Click here to view scorecard
Australia beat Ireland by 209 runs at Queenstown Events Centre, Queenstown (Group B)
Australia 274-5, 50 overs (Alex Keath 88, Tim Armstrong 73 not out, Tom Beaton 53; George Dockrell 2-38, Jordan Coghlan 2-62)
Ireland 65 all out, 24.2 overs (Stuart Thompson 19; Nick Buchanan 4-16, Kane Richardson 3-23, Tim Armstrong 2-6) Click here to view scorecard
Sri Lanka beat Zimbabwe by eight wickets at Bert Sutcliffe Oval, Lincoln (Group C)
Match reduced to 34 overs per side
Zimbabwe 121 all out, 33.3 overs (Tinotenda Mutombodzi 42 not out; Charith Jayampathi 4-26, Chatura Peiris 3-14, Udara Jayasundera 2-24)
Sri Lanka 125 for 2 in 24.2 overs (Banuka Rajapaksa 52 n.o., Udara Jayasundera 30; Nathan Waller 2-26) Click here to view scorecard
West Indies beat Bangladesh by one run at Fitzherbert Park, Palmerston North (Group D)
West Indies 249 for 8 in 50 overs (Andre Creary 55, Jermaine Blackwood 48, Yannic Cariah 44, Akeem Dewar 39, Shane Dowrich 35; Shaker Ahmed 2-39, Hasan Raju 2-55)
Bangladesh 248 all out in 49.4 overs (Tasamul Hoque 54, Shabbir Rahman 53, Mahmudul Hasan 32; Akeem Dewar 3-63, Jomel Warrican 2-36, Yannic Cariah 2-38) Click here to view scorecard
