ICC Under-19 World Cup: Australia too hot to handle as West Indies’ batting crumble

By Brandon Corlette at Providence

The scorching sun was blazing from a glorious sky, and Australia were too hot to handle for the West Indies at the Guyana National Stadium at Providence. In the first match of the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup, Australia cruised to a six-wicket win with 31 balls to spare.

Teague Wyllie’s solidity ensured the visitors chased down 170.
West Indies were rocked for 169 all out in 40.1 overs, with skipper Ackeem Auguste, again top-scoring with 57. Australia then replied with 170-4 off 44.5 overs, with Wylie carrying his bat in his solid 86. Auguste was rock solid, but the Aussies kept chipping away at the total.

Earlier, West Indies U-19 won the toss and elected to bat first on a surface that looked good. The second ball of the match saw Guyanese Matthew Nandu edging one to the wicket-keeper for a golden duck off seamer Tom Whitney.

The classy Teddy Bishop also came and went cheaply, top-edging a short-ball for five. The Aussies chipped away and sent back Shaqkere Parris for four with the score on 12-3 after 5.1 overs.

Skipper Ackeem Auguste partnered Rivaldo Clarke, and the duo rebuild the innings with some classy shots along the ground in their 95-run partnership. Clarke was then dismissed for a 42-ball 37 at 107-4 after 21.5 overs.
The skipper then continued to show his class, but he watched his partner Giovonte Depeiza fall for a duck. The left-hander Auguste departed the crease at 112-6 when he was removed by his opposite number Connolly.
Auguste stroked eight elegant fours in his 57. After Johann Layne (12) was sent packing at 131-8, the score of 150 seemed a million miles away. However, McKenny Clarke began to hit the ball to all parts of the Providence ground. He slammed three mighty sixes, and played some innovative shots as well. While entertaining the small gathering at Providence, he was the final man dismissed, for 29 from 35 balls, which was decorated with three sixes and two fours.
Number 11 batsman Onjae Amory survived for 11 balls, and did not get off the mark, but he was cheered by his team-mates and the fans every ball he survived. The final wicket yielded 24 runs, as the innings closed on 169 all out in 40.1 overs.
In the collective bowling effort from the Aussies, skipper Cooper Connolly bagged 3-17 while pacer Whitney had 3-20. The gifted and ambidextrous Tamil Nadu-born spinner Nivethan Radhakrishnan had 3-48. He has the ability to bowl sharp left-arm and right-arm spin.

Cautious Australia start
In pursuit of 170, Australia began cautiously. Opener Corey Miller had no answer for the probing right-arm pacer Layne, who served up a maiden in the first over. He continued to bowl in the right areas, and was quickly rewarded when he made Miller chop on with the score on 5-1 in 2.4 overs.
Isaac Higgins was caught behind off a low catch for nine, as Australia were reduced to 21-2 in 7.5 overs.
Onjae Amory produced an arm-ball and bowled Connolly for 23. Wyllie and Radhakrishnan then dropped anchor, adding 75 runs together. Wyllie played some steady shots in his level-headed 86 from 129 balls. His top innings included eight fours.
Campbell Kellaway made an unbeaten 10 from 22 balls as the match ended with a no-ball after 44.5 overs. Paceman Layne, Shiva Sankar, Amory and Nandu had one wicket each.
West Indies will now play Scotland on Monday January 17 in St Kitts and Nevis. India and South Africa will be playing at Providence today, Saturday January 15, while Ireland and Uganda will play at Everest from 9:00h local time.