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The West Indies Rising Stars began their 2022 Under-19 Cricket World Cup campaign with a defeat today, going under by six wickets to Australia by six wickets in the tournament opener at Providence in Guyana.
West Indies won the toss and chose to bat. But by the sixth over, the hosts were already 12 for 3 as opener Matthew Nandu was caught behind for a golden duck off pacer Tom Whitney while Shaqkere Parris (4 off 13 balls) and Teddy Bishop (5 off 15 ) did not last long either.
(Copyright James Chance/Getty Images)
Captain Ackeem Auguste and wicketkeeper Rivaldo Clarke settled frayed nerves for the Rising Stars, combining to add 95-in a fourth-wicket partnership.
But after spinner Nivethan Radhakrishnan dismissed Clarke for 34 (42b, 4 x 4), the wickets started to tumble again. And when opposing captain Cooper Connolly claimed Auguste’s wicket for 57 (67b, 8 x 4), West Indies were 112 for 6 with 25.5 overs still to come.
Some big hitting from McKenny Clarke, who struck three sixes off spinner Harkirat Bajwa in the 38th over en route to a 35-ball 29, saw the junior Windies team limp to 169 all out after 40.1 overs.
West Indies pacer Johann Layne struck early, dismissing opener Corey Miller for a duck in the third over of the innings. And the Aussies were 21 for 2 once the third umpire intervened to rule that Rivaldo had taken a clean catch after Shiva Sankar induced a nick from Isaac Higgins.
(Copyright Getty Images)
However, there was little else to genuinely scare the visitors as opener Teague Wyllie batted through the innings to close on an unbeaten 86 (129b, 8 x 4) with key contributions from Radhakrishnan (31, 58b, 2 x 4) and Connolly (23, 31b, 4 x 4).
And Australia reached 170 for 4 off 44.5 overs, their final run rate of 3.79 lower than the West Indies’ 4.20.
First lesson for Auguste’s young men: discretion is often the better part of valour.
West Indies play their second game from 9am on Monday against Scotland in Basseterre.
(Match Summary)
Toss: West Indies
West Indies: 169 all out (Ackeem Auguste 57, Rivaldo Clarke 37, McKenny Clarke 29; Cooper Connolly 3/17, Tom Whitney 3/20);
Australia: 170 for 4 (Teague Wyllie 86*, Nivethan Radhakrishnan 31; Johann Layne 1/19, Onaje Amory 1/29);
Man-of-the-Match: Teague Wyllie (Australia)
Result: Australia won by six wkts (with 31 balls remaining)
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Who are the persons responsible for identifying, developing and nurturing talent around the Caribbean?
Whoever they are, they are doing a very poor job and it is hurting our cricket big time. Some of these guys are talented but lack that edge that players from other countries have. This requires serious action (creation of programs and dedication of resources) to address these.
Our cricket is in real trouble and, if this is not addressed, these guys will eventually move onto the senior level producing displays similar to what we saw yesterday against Ireland.
The time for excuses has long passed. It’s time for real action.