CHITTAGONG, Bangladesh, CMC – Opener Gidron Pope extended his good form with a stroke-filled half-century but his efforts failed to prevent West Indies Under-19s from plunging to a 16-run defeat to Bangladesh Under-19s, in their third and final one-dayer here yesterday.
Playing at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, the Young Windies faltered in their pursuit of 236 and were dismissed for 219 in the final over.
Opener Saif Hassan struck an unbeaten 107 and middle order batsman Shafiul Hayet, 61, to underpin the hosts 235 for seven off their 50 overs, after they opted for first knock.
Pope then top-scored with 57, Kacey Carty carved out 42 while Tevin Imlach struck 38, but the tourists came up short as off-spinner Sanjit Saha sliced through the innings with five for 21.
The defeat meant a whitewash in the series for the Caribbean side who lost the opening game by eight wickets in Mirpur and the second game by 171 runs in Chittagong last Thursday.
In one bright spot despite the defeat, West Indies produced their best showing yet with the bat, after two disappointing efforts in the series.
The left-handed Pope looked in good touch as he posted an impressive 82 off 78 balls for the first wicket with Imlach.
Pope, with scores of 31 and 23 in the two previous games, faced 48 balls and lashed 11 fours and a six before he fell in the 13th over.
Shimron Hetmyer (5) followed cheaply six overs later and Imlach went in the 28th over at 117 for three, but Carty and Shahid Crooks (9) breathed new life into the innings with a 29-run, fourth wicket partnership.
Carty faced 79 deliveries and counted three fours and appeared set for a half-century when he perished in the 43rd over, bowled by Saha.
His dismissal proved a turning point as the innings fell away, with the last five wickets tumbling for the addition of 50 runs.
Ryan John, with a lively 26 off 19 balls and Jyd Goodie, who struck a busy 23 from 24 balls, delivered late cameos but Bangladesh closed out the innings clinically.
Earlier, Saif anchored the innings with a knock that included 11 fours and three sixes and came from 147 deliveries.
He combined with Shafiul to take the game away from the Young Windies in a stand of 89 for the fifth wicket, which pulled their side around from 88 for four in the 24th over.
The right-handed Shafiul stroked nine fours off 69 balls.
Pope also shone with the ball, taking two for 20 with his off-spin while fellow off-break bowler Kirstan Kallicharan (2-30) and seamer Odean Smith (2-55) were the other wicket takers.
West Indies will now turn their attention to the ICC Youth World Cup which bowls off here next Friday.
They do battle with England, Fiji and Zimbabwe in Group C, and will play official warm-ups against Scotland and South Africa before the tournament gets underway.
