From Clifton Ross
at Albion
Contrasting half-centuries from Shimron Hetemyer and Fabian Allen allowed West Indies to level the seven match Under-19 One Day International series 3-3, after a 36-run win over compatriots Bangladesh at the Albion Sports Complex ground, yesterday.
Allen smashed a belligerent 50 off 38 balls, an innings which included two fours and three huge sixes while Hetemyer patiently crafted his 65 off 97 balls
supplemented with six fours, as the young Windies set the stage for a mouth-watering final.
Hetemyer was involved in a reviving second wicket partnership of 76 with Tristan Coleman who chipped in with 36 while Tarryck Gabriel supported with 28. Contested in front of an animated Albion crowd, the Windies, after winning the toss and electing to bat, racked up an imposing 240 for 8 from their 50 overs.
Zubair Likhon picked up 3 for 56 along with some catches while fast bowler Abu Haider Rony grabbed 2 for 30 for the tourists.
Chasing a stiff target for victory, Bangladesh fell in their chase, slumping to 204 all out in 46.3 overs, despite a battling 78 from opener Joyraj Emon. He was supported by Sadman Anik who scored 28.
West Indies Skipper and man-of-the-match, Ramaal Lewis, was the pick of the bowlers snapping up 3 for 35 and was reinforced with a wicket each from Fabian Allen, Preston McSween and Gudakesh Motie-Kanahi.
Monir Jummon (10) was the first to go trapped LBW by Motie-Kanhai, followed by Sadman Anik (28) who was run out by Archer. Jashim Uddin (7) was caught at point, as the tourists slipped to 75 for 3 in 23 overs.
Saikat (16) was run out shortly after he and Emon raised the team’s three figure mark in the 29th over. Emon soon brought up his half-century in the 34th over with a single.
The 150 came up in the 37th over with a four up and over extra-cover but the very next ball of Lewis’s first over saw the stumps of Nazmul Shanto fly for 16. Shanto (16) was run out while Saeed was caught for 1.
Rahuttul (1), Emon and Miraj (1) were quickly dismissed and Rony was run out for 28 leaving Likhon stranded on 3.
Earlier in the day, Rony struck twice removing both openers in the space of a few deliveries. The out-of-sorts Leroy Lugg (6), mistimed a pull shot which sailed down the throat of Likhon fielding at square-leg, and he was followed by the departure of Tagenarine Chanderpaul who was pinned LBW for 8.
Hetemyer and Coleman dug in and steadied the innings bringing up the team’s 50 in the 10th over before Coleman was run out by Likhon. Gabriel then joined forces with Hetemyer, who was to proudly raise his bat in the 29th over to signal his well-played half-century.
He, however soon fell in the power-play period, caught at third man. Likhon continued his wizardry with the ball removing Gabriel and the out-of-sorts Nicholas Pooran (4) whom he comprehensively bowled. Archer (13) and Motie-Kanhai (2) fell in quick succession but Allen and Lewis (13) not out, finished the innings with a flurry.
The seventh and final ODI will take place tomorrow Monday at the Everest Sports Club and should be a mouth-watering contest between these two young teams as the stakes are set for winner takes all.
