West Indies U19 vs India U19
Game 1
2509 people travelled to the Sardar Patel Stadium to watch India U19 take on the visiting West Indies U19. The home side won the toss and put Didier Shaw and his team in to bat.
Just 36 runs in, India had their first wicket. Roland Seaby was caught behind by Chaman Mohammed of the bowling of Adnan Islam. He had hit 25 of the runs so far.
Kim Fowler and Dinanath Hudson rebuilt the innings and Fowler completed his fifty. But, with his score on 52, he was stumped by Mohammed after being lured out of his crease by Chittanranjan Ali, the demon spinner. Just nine runs later, a similar ball was bowled by Ali and Mohammed got rid of Hudson with some nice keeping.
Del Casper yidn’t get into his tride and he was caught by Mahesh Moodley after he spooned a Gurudutt Haishen ball.
But captain Shaw and number six batsman Chris Hook both got fifties in a 90 run partnership. In the end, West Indies finished on a respectable 258-4.
Kanha Moodley and Maheepati Haishen, twin brother of the bowler, walked out confidently to bat. But 18 runs in, they were both back in the pavilion. Moodley was dispatched for 3 after some brave keeping by Seaby. He decided to stand up to the Medium pacer Junior Bolla and he got a terrific stumping. Haishen was dispatched for 10 after being run out.
A huge third wicket partnership of 176 got India back into the match. Wicketkeeper Mohammed and Ojas Islam raced past their fifties. Islam was finally out for 80 after Shaw caught him in the deep off Troy Harrison.
Mohammed found himself batting with his twin brother Ramamuja. However, Mohammed went seven runs later after completing his century.
Mohammed and Kanha Moodley’s twin brother Mahesh (there were four pairs of twins in the India side) got the target total with a whole over to spare.
Game 2
There was a grim determination in the West Indian dressing room before the rematch at Sabina Park. Captain Shaw came back from the toss to tell the team that they were fielding.
It wasn’t a good start for West Indies. India had 82 runs on the board when Harrison’s consistent bowling was rewarded after his quickest ball so far hit Maheepati Haishen’s stumps.
Wicketkeeper Mohammed hit another fifty after Kanha Moodley had completed his. Then Moodley fell with 150 runs on the board, with 90 of those being his.
Ojas Islam and Mohammed put on 75 before Mohammed was bowled by Dessie Robson. 9 runs were added before one of the fifth pair of twins, Abhay Singh lali fell.
Islam and Ravindra Naidoo saw out the innings as India posted 259-4.
It was a similar score to the West Indian score in the first match. The line up was unchanged.
Once again, it was Seaby who fell first. He had hit 31 before he was caught.
Fowler hit 27 before he was caught as well, but West Indies had gone up to 120. At this point, however, they were down on the required run rate.
Shaw came in and put on ninety with Hudson, who finally went for 112 in a brilliant innings. That sparked a mini collapse, with three wickets falling for three runs. That left Bolla, along with Shaw, to get the 18 runs needed to win.
They scored sensibly and soon they need two to win. Shaw was facing and he pumped the ball for four to give LowellMason a taste of victory. Shaw ended on a fantastic 74 not out but the star of the show was Hudson for his vital century.
Next week: West Indies U19 vs England U19
