LINCOLN, New Zealand, CMC – Talented 17-year-old Yannic Cariah stroked an attacking half century but West Indies Under-19s suffered a 41-run loss to Australia U19s in a rain-affected ICC Under-19 World Cup warm-up match yesterday. Electing to bat, Australia compiled a daunting 319 for seven off their 50 overs and when rain aborted the match at Lincoln University, West Indies had reached 263 for nine off 43.4 overs, handing the defending champions victory via the Duckworth/Lewis method. Cariah played well for 65 off 56 balls with five fours and two sixes, while fellow Trinidad and Tobago batsman Evin Lewis stroked a 40-ball 41 with four fours and two sixes. The tall Jason Holder, batting at No.8, smashed three boundaries in scoring 34, while Trevon Griffith (23), Shane Dowrich (23) and captain Andre Creary (21) were the next highest scorers against leg-spinner Adam Zampa (3-41) and pacer Alister McDermott (2-60). Earlier, the Australians were virtually untroubled against the West Indies bowling attack.
The left-handed Nic Maddinson cracked 10 boundaries in a top-score of 74, while captain Mitchell Marsh (71), Tom Beaton (44), and Tim Armstrong (37) all scored well.
Maddison and Beaton added 70 for the first wicket. Bowling for West Indies U19s, leg-spinner Yannick Ottley picked up two for 50 off nine overs. Nicholson Gordon (1-36), Holder (1-45), Jermaine Blackwood (1-48) and Nelson Bolan (1-80) also picked up wickets.
Two of the Caribbean side’s first-round opponents – Pakistan and Bangladesh – scored wins in other warm-up games on Monday.
Pakistan beat Zimbabwe by 38 runs and Bangladesh upset hosts New Zealand.
Muhammad Babar (103) and Azeem Ghumman (62) scored heavily in Pakistan’s score of 275 for five off their 50 overs before Raza Hassan (5-36) limited Zimbabwe to 219 all out. In a rain-shortened match, New Zealand scored 242 for six in 45 overs with Corey Anderson getting a top-score of 62.
Saikat Ali (72) and Muminul Showrav (66) led the scoring for Bangladesh, who were 229 for four when rain aborted the match after 39.1 overs of their innings, giving Bangladesh victory by 36 runs on the Duckworth/Lewis method. Papua New Guinea (PNG), the third West Indies opponents in group play starting later this week, were beaten by England in their match. PNG tallied just 141 all out in 46.3 overs and England replied with 145 for two in 24.2 overs.
West Indies play Ireland in another warm-up match on Tuesday.
West Indies will start the ICC U19 World Cup against Pakistan on Friday before facing Bangladesh on Sunday and Papua New Guinea next Tuesday in their remaining Group D matches. The two top teams from each of the four groups will move on to the Championship quarter-final phase and the bottom two will play in the Plate event. West Indies, runners-up to Pakistan in 2004, were Plate winners at the last tournament in 2008.
