Defeat leaves WI U19s facing World Cup elimination

HARARE, Zimbabwe:

West Indies Under-19s' hopes of reaching the semi-final of the International Cricket Council Men's Under-19 Cricket World Cup suffered a major setback when they went down by 22 runs to defending champions Australia in their crucial Super Six, Group 1 encounter on Wednesday.

Needing a victory to boost their chances of reaching the final four, the regional team produced a below par bowling effort after sending the Aussies into bat at the Harare Sports Club, as captain Oliver Peake scored an impressive century to power his side to a formidable 314 for seven in 50 overs.

Through the efforts of Zachary Carter and skipper Joshua Dorne, who scored contrasting half centuries, West Indies put themselves in a strong position to pull off a memorable win, but faltered at the death to finish on 292 for nine.

NEEDING A MIRACLE

With the result, the unbeaten Australians advanced to the semi-final stage of the tournament, leaving the Windies needing a miracle due to their poor net run rate.

They are currently tied on four points with Afghanistan, who are currently in second place on net run rate ahead of Sri Lanka.

However, the Windies would need both Afghanistan, who is set to play Ireland in their final Super Six match on Friday, and Sri Lanka, who take on South Africa on Thursday, to suffer heavy defeats if they are to have any chance of progressing in the tournament.

Needing to score at over six runs and over, Zachary Carter and Tanez Francis gave the Windies a whirlwind start in an opening partnership of 88 runs, while going at eight runs an over.

Carter was especially brutal on his way to registering the fourth fastest half century of the tournament, off 29 balls.

AUSTRALIA LUCK

Australia needed some luck to make the breakthrough, when Francis missed a full toss from Charles Lachmund and was adjudged lbw, despite the ball seemingly headed past the leg stump.

Carter and Jewel Andrew then added 35 runs in just over three overs, before Carter unnecessarily tried to heave the first delivery from legspinner Naden Cooray over the legside and was bowled for 64 off 42 balls, inclusive of seven fours and four sixes.

His dismissal brought Joshua Dorne to the crease, and together with Andrew, they maintained the momentum to carry the score to 171 for two after 26 overs.

The reintroduction of pacer Hayden Schiller reaped immediate dividends for Australia, with his yorker piercing Andrew's defence to bowl him for 44.

Dorne then found a useful partner in Kunal Tilokani, with the two adding 68 runs for the fourth wicket. During that partnership, Dorne reached his first half century of the tournament off 80 balls.

But just as the two looked to accelerate, Tilokani edged Lachmund behind to be caught for 35 off 42 balls and with just seven runs added, Schiller returned to bowl Dorne for 62 off 97 balls, to leave the Windies 246 for five in the 43rd over. They later lost their four wickets for seven runs in the last 14 balls.

- CMC