Young Windies slump to 67-run defeat

…Bangladesh win series 4-3

West Indies Under-19 imploded under a barrage of spin and were sent crashing to a 67-run defeat in the final youth One-Day International against Bangladesh at the Everest Cricket Club ground on Monday.

Chasing a moderate 169 for victory on a ‘slowish’ track, West Indies capitulated to 101 all out off 33.5 overs. By virtue of the victory, Bangladesh won the seven-match series 4-3.

West Indies were left scrambling after a horrendous batting collapse triggered by left-arm spinner Uzzaman Nehad and off-spinner Mehedi Miraj. Nehad took 5 for 12 and Miraj, who was later adjudged Man-of-the-Match and Series, finished with four for 25.

Although Jeremy Solozano put up a valiant fight with an unbeaten 35, which prolonged the West Indies innings, he could not find enough support at the other end to carry the team through to a possible victory.

Rammal Lewis (19) and Nicholas Pooran (10) were the only other batsmen to reach double figures.

Earlier, the West Indies had a decent bowling effort on the sluggish pitch to restrict Bangladesh to 168 in 44 overs.

The West Indies exploited conditions ideally with left-arm fast bowler Jerome Jones being the main destructive force, claiming 5-23, including a hat-trick in the 44th over. Jones received valuable support from Alazarri Joseph with 2 for 48, Fabian Allen, 2 for 27, and Lewis, 1 for 3.

Sadman Anik, in rich form at the top of the order top-scored with 48, while his teammates Jashim Uddin (33), captain Mehedi Miraj (28), Joyraj Emon (26) and Yasir Rabbi (20), added some resistance for the visitors.

After deciding to bat first, Bangladesh got off to a decent start. Openers Anik and Emon put on 43 runs for the first wicket in the first 10 overs. However, Alzarri Joseph spoiled the Bangladeshis’ start when he dismissed Emon.

Anik was joined by Jashim Uddin and the pair added 56 runs for the second wicket. They scored mainly ones and twos, although the occasional boundary came.

The hosts then reduced Bangladesh to 100 for 4 in the 27th over, with Lewis dismissing the in-form Uddin and Fabin Allen removing Mossadek Saikat and Nazmul Shanto from successive deliveries.

Anik, who was dropped on 35, got brief support from captain Miraj, but was the lone fighter. His innings of 48 took them close to the 150-run mark.

However, a cluster of wicket at the back end of the innings saw Jones snaring four wickets in an over, including Yasir Rabbi (20) and his hat-trick victims, Javed Rahuttul (7), Uzzaman Nehad (0) and Zubair Likhon (0).

At the start of the chase, West Indies were in dire straits when they lost openers Shimron Hetmyer and Tagenarine Chanderpaul, as well as, Tristan Coleman, Taryck Gabriel, Pooran and Fabian Allen within the first 18 overs, leaving the hosts 51 for 6.

Miraj and Nehad did the early damage, claiming three wickets apiece, before a defiant 33-run, seventh wicket stand between Jeremy Solozano and Lewis, offered the hosts temporary solace.

But after Lewis was dismissed, the last three batsmen were also dismissed quickly.

Bangladesh will host the West Indies for a return series in December before the Youth World Cup, scheduled for Dubai, is held in February next year.