Windies sweep to victory 

The West Indies got off to a comfortable five-wicket victory against Tanzania as the u19 Cricket World Cup got underway in Windhoek yesterday. 

After winning the toss and electing to bowl the Windies reduced Tanzania to a modest 122 all out before reaching the target for the loss of five wickets with more than half their overs still in hand. 

The match took place at the High Performance Oval, adjacent to the FNB Namibia Ground, with the pitch in resplendent condition, giving the Windies’ pace bowlers plenty of swing and bounce. 

Tanzania got off to a steady start as their openers Dylan Thakrar and Darpan Jobanputra shared an opening partnership of 51 runs before Jobanputra was dismissed for 19 off Jonathan van Lange’s bowling. 

Thakrar followed soon after for a top score of 26, before the Windies’ bowlers cut through the middle order to leave Tanzania reeling at 86/7. 

Tanzania’s lower order offered a bit more resistance before the whole team was out for 122 off 34 overs. 

Left arm spinner Vitel Lawes was the Windies’ top bowler, taking three wickets for 23 runs, while pace bowler Shaquan Belle took 2/23 and leg-break bowler Micah McKenzie 2/15. 

In reply, the Windies lost opener Zachary Carter early on, bowled by Augustine Mwamele for eight runs, but Tanez Francis and Jewel Andrew put them in command with an 80-run partnership. 

Andrew was eventually dismissed for 44 while Francis followed soon after for 52, but by then victory was a mere formality, as they reached 124/5 with 29 overs in hand. 

The opening two matches in Zimbabwe, meanwhile, were disrupted by rain, with the encounter between Zimbabwe and Scotland in Harare abandoned without a ball being bowled.

India, however, managed to beat the United States by six wickets on the DLS method after their match was completed after a rain delay. 

Indian pace bowler Henil Patel tore through the United States innings, as they crashed to 39/5 before Nitish Sudini (36) led a lower-order revival as they reached 107 for 10 wickets off 35,2 overs. 

In reply, India reached a revised target of 99/4 off 17,2 overs to run out comfortable winners. 

Abhigyan Kundi scored 42 off 41 balls (5×4, 1×6), while Ritvik Appidi took 2/24 for the USA. 

Patel won the player of the match award with impressive figures of 5/16 off seven overs.

Four more matches are scheduled to take place in Windhoek over the weekend.

Today, Australia take on Ireland in a Group A match at the FNB Namibia Cricket Ground, while Afghanistan take on South Africa in a Group D match at the High Performance Oval.

Tomorrow, Sri Lanka take on Japan in a Group A match at the FNB Namibia Cricket Ground, while on Sunday, the West Indies take on Afghanistan in a Group D clash at the HP Oval.

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