The Under-19 World Cup 2022 began in West Indies on January 14 with Australia beating hosts West Indies comfortably to start their journey. In another game, Sri Lanka struggled but eventually got past minnow Scotland to start on a winning note as well.
In today’s encounters, four times U-19 World Champions India would be up against 2014 winner South Africa at the Providence Stadium in Guyana.
Among the other three encounters, the low ranked teams generally termed minnows, face up against each other. While Zimbabwe and Papua New Guinea face up against each other in Queens Park Oval, Port of Spain, Trinidad, Ireland play Uganda Everest Cricket Club Ground, Georgetown, Guyana. In the last game of the day, Canada will take on UAE at Warner Park, Basseterre in St Kitts and Nevis.
In the first match of the World Cup, Australia were all over the hosts West indies as their bowlers bowled the Ackeem Auguste led side out for 166. Fast bowler Tom Whitney and then spinners, the ambidextrous Chennai born Nivethan Radhakrishnan and skipper Cooper Connolly took three wickets each while one wicket went to William Salzmann as West Indies were rolled over in the 41st over itself.
For the hosts, skipper Auguste was the lone warrior who scored 57 off 67 balls, while Rivaldo Clarke and McKenny Clarke contributed with 37 and 29 respectively. No other batter apart from these three was able to enter even in the double figures.
Chasing 167, Australia did lose Corey Miller and Issac Higgins early, but opening batter Teague Wyllie remained on the crease and had good rough partnerships, first with skipper Connolly and then with Radhakrishnan of 53 and 75 runs respectively to guide his team home. He remained unbeaten on 86 off 129 balls.
In the second game of the day, favourites Sri Lanka were given a close run for their money by Scotland as they were dismissed for only 218 while batting first, having won the toss. It was only because of Sakuna Liyanage’s 85 and Raveen de Silva’s 30 late in the innings that Sri Lanka were able to cross the 200 run mark. They were eventually bowled out in the 46th over.
For Scotland, Sean Fischer-Keogh picked three wickets while Jack Jarvis and Oliver Davidson picked two each.
Chasing the target, Scotland started cautiously but then kept losing wickets at regular intervals. Jarvis tried his best by scoring a valiant 55, but could not get the desired support from other batters and eventually Scotland ended their innings at 178 in the 49th over.
For Sri Lanka, their skipper Dunith Wellalage picked five wickets and was helped by Shevon Daniel who picked two wickets as well.