In a thrilling super six match-up against Sri Lanka at Kimberly, South Africa, the West Indies under 19, captained by Steve Wedderburn, showcased an impressive batting performance to secure victory in the ICC U19 World Cup.
Sri Lanka won the toss and opted to bat, with opener Pulindu Perera making a solid start, contributing 24 runs, including four boundaries.
The West Indies’ Nathan Edwards made key breakthroughs by dismissing Vis-hen Halam-bage for naught and Sineth Jayawardena for 11.
Supun Waduge and Sharun-jan Shan-muga-nathan steadied the Sri Lankan innings with scores of 31 and 53, respectively. Maisha Tharupathi added 42 runs, guiding Sri Lanka to a total of 231 runs.
Raneico Smith spearheaded the West Indies’ bowling attack, picking up four wickets for 47 runs, supported by Nathan Sealy and Tarrique Edwards.
In response, the West Indies began their innings with Stephen Pascal contributing 33 runs before being dismissed.
However, Steve Wedderburn and Jordan Johnson formed a crucial partnership, with Johnson scoring 39 runs.
The pair propelled the West Indies to 147 for 2 before Sri Lanka staged a comeback, claiming four wickets for 37 runs.
Nathan Sealy’s resilient 27 runs, coupled with vital contributions from other batsmen, secured the victory for the West Indies U19 team by three wickets with three balls to spare.
The West Indies will face Australia on Friday, February 2, with hopes of reaching the semifinals in the ICC U19 World Cup.
The thrilling encounter showcased the resilience and skill of the West Indies U19 team, setting the stage for an exciting journey in the tournament.