Pakistan Series Report from West Indies U19 manager Windies.
Game 1 @ Gaddafi Stadium, Pakistan - 25/11/08
Following a disappointing lost again England the previous week, the lads from the Caribbean landed in Pakistan a few days early to get themselves accustom to the playing and weather conditions.
After winning the toss, WI Youth Captain Forrester sent Pakistan in to bat on a flat pitch. After starting the match with a maiden from Desouza, Robins struck next over as he dismissed Abid for only 5. Running high on emotion, the bowlers tried hard in difficult conditions but it was the Pakistani batsmen who soldiered on for a 149 2nd wicket partnership (with Ibrahim and Nasir both scoring half centuries) before Tito broke up the pair in the 37th Over by getting Ibrahim to glove one behind to Lock. A few overs later, Desouza dismissed Wajahatullah, Zaheer and Nasir in the 41st, 43rd and 45th overs respectively before Wheeler dismissed Tameezuddin and Ikramullah in consecutive overs. Going for his first 5 wicket haul, Desouza then struck in the 49th over by having Irshadullah out LBW. Alas, it was not to be as he finished with figures of 10-1-44-4 and more importantly restricting Pakistan to a low total of 224/8 off their quota of 50 innings.
The Windies started off their chase with a lovely 6 by Forrester before he was quickly removed in the same over. 6/1 soon went to 8/2 after Wheat was robbed off a diving catch by Ikramullah in the 3rd Over for a score of 1. Alongside the in-form opener Joost, solid middle-order batsman Wessels then came to the crease with some rebuilding work to do. It wasn’t long after that Wessels posted his 3rd half century in fine fashion by scoring his runs to all quarters of the stadium. Reaching the score of 55, he was then dismissed by a debatable decision of caught behind. With pressure mounting on the Windies, North then entered with a score of 104/3 to continue the Windies fight. After scoring his 2nd U19 half century from only 54 balls, Joost lost his wicket for 66 and saw the Windies youths at 151/4 at the end of the 30th over. North quickly stepped up to his role as the senior batsman alongside WK/batsman Lock as they brought up the 200 at the start of the 41st Over. The manager’s son then went on to score his 3rd U19 half century before loosing his partner by an excellent delivery from Gul with the scores level at 224. With the scores now level at the start of the 45th Over, North then ended the game in fine style by smashing a 4 to the covers to stay unbeaten at 62 and handing the West Indies U19 their 3rd victory of the season and a move upwards to 7th place in the U19 Rankings.
There was serious consideration for Desouza with his 4 wicket haul, but in the end it was decided that Joost be awarded MOTM for his solid knock opening the innings.
Game 2 @ Sabina Park, Jamaica - 26/11/08
Following their high of defeating Pakistan for the first time since Season 5, the Windies youths again won the toss and sent in Pakistan to bat on an uneven pitch. Taking advantage of the pitch, Desouza and Duplessis dismissed Naumanullah and Shafiq respectively to have the tourists on the ropes at 7/2 after 2 overs. In the 5th over, Desouza then delivered a damaging blow to the tourists after he dismissed Wajahatullah to have the Pakistan U19 at 15/3. Abid and Haleem then posted a 60 run partnership before Wheeler dismissed Haleem for 37 off a magnificient catch by Lock. Wheeler then claimed the wicket of Aqdus to put the Windies youths in a commanding position. With economical bowling from Sattaur, Tito then picked up the wicket of Ilyas to have the tourists struggling at 126/6 at the end of the 37th over. the highlight of the day however came as the race to 5 wickets between Desouza and Wheeler started at the beginning of the 41st Over. A magnificent double hat-trick from Desouza ended any hopes of the Pakistan U19 to post a respectable total as they were bowled out for 134.
Wanting to prove his versatillity, Wessels opened the innings with Joost in sterling form. They both carried on to give the Windies a commanding position at 81/0 before Wessels gave away his wicket for only 34 runs. An out of-form Lobo then entered to prove that he was still worthy of being selected to the first XI after being dropped in the first game. Batting hero from the previous game, Joost, then scored his 3rd half century and in that giving the Windies youths a score of 93/1 after 17 overs. It wasn’t long after that he finished off the game with a classy 4 to remain unbeaten on 79 and handing the West Indies U19 Team it’s first series sweep over another team since Season 5. The win also saw the Windies youths with a 4-2 record for the season.
Unlike the previous day, Desouza’s bowling spell of 5-0-16-6 easily won him the Man of the Match Award and the Man of the Series Award.
Next up is Australia vs West Indies on 9/12/08.
