Carty crowns WI champions

West Indies secured their maiden U19 World Cup title after they defeated India by five wickets in a low-scoring final at Mirpur stadium today.

Keacy Carty steered his team to victory with a patient unbeaten knock of 52. He faced 125 balls and stood his ground when wickets fell around him.

Carty was adjudged the man of the match for his monumental effort with the bat.

The sixth wicket stand of 69 between Keemo Paul and Carty kept the Indian bowlers at bay and ensured no more hiccups late in the innings. Paul was not out at 40.

For India, it was a day of missed chances and unforced errors as they failed to live up to the billing of tournament favourites when it mattered the most.

Mayank Dagar was the most successful bowler for India. He took three for 25 in 10 overs to stall West Indies. Avesh Khan and Khaleel Ahmed took a wicket each.

With only 44 required of 60 balls, the match hanged delicately on the balance, as West Indies had only five wickets left in the bag. One wicket at this stage would certainly tip the scales in India’s favour.

West Indies were 77/5 in the 29th over when Dagar got his third wicket of the day. Dagar caught and bowled Goolie for three to leave West Indies stuttering.

Dagar struck again in the 27th over to send the cat among the pigeons as far as West Indies were concerned. Springer was removed for three after his slog sweep found the fielder at long-off.

West Indies were rocked in the 23rd over when they lost their captain Hetmyer for 23. India’s spinner Dagar was delighted as he got the big wicket and brought his side back into the match.

West Indies lost their second wicket in the 8th over, as Indian bowlers kept things tight from both ends.

Imlach was undone by extra bounce when he tried to deal with a short ball from Khaleel. The ball struck the top-half of the bat and lobbed to Lomror at cover. Imlach failed to score more than 15.

Indian new ball bowler Avesh gave his side the early breakthrough when he got the dangerous West Indian opener Gidron Pope in the third over of the chase.

Pope looked to hoick a short ball away, but got a thick top-edge to third man where Khaleel didn’t make any mistake.

West Indian batsman plays a cover drive during ICC U19 CWC 2016 at Bangladesh. File Photo: STAR

Earlier, West Indies gave themselves a great chance to win the final of ICC U19 Cricket World Cup 2016 when they restricted India to 145.

It was a fantastic performance on the field by the West Indian bowlers. Joseph and John took three wickets each. Paul captured two late in the innings.

India’s Sarfaraz Khan held fort and scored the highest for his team with 51 runs. The next highest scorer in India’s innings was 23 from extras.

India lost their last wicket in the 46th over, when Batham was finally sent back for a timely 21. Batham lasted 31 balls and scored some crucial runs in the end.

India looked down the barrel before the 40th over as they lost their eighth wicket, that too of the high-flying Sarfaraz Khan. Sarfaraz had steadied the innings with his fifty, but West Indies got him before he could do more damage.

Sarfaraz lasted 145 minutes at the crease, played 89 balls, scored 51 with five fours and a six.

West Indies struck in the 37th over to dismiss Dagar for eight. Dagar played a reckless shot and was holed out to backward point.

West Indies all over India…

30th over saw the India stutter again, when Lomror was sent back to the pavilion by Holder. 

West Indies tightened their grip on the match after they were able to send back half the Indian side by 18 overs with disciplined bowling from both ends.

Hero of the semi-final win over Bangladesh, Springer struck in his first over when Armaan Jaffer failed to keep the ball down. Armaan drove the full ball on middle uppishly but failed to beat Paul at cover.  

India lost their fourth wicket in the 15th over, and the writing was on the wall for the tournament favourites. West Indies struck when India batsmen tried to consolidate, and the bowlers were well supported by the fielders in the finale.

Washington Sundar was sent back to the dressing room by John for seven runs. Sundar wanted to drive but the ball stopped on the batsman and lobbed to Joseph at mid-off. India were four down and Joseph had played a part in every dismissal so far.

India were truly reeling by the seventh over when they had lost three important wickets for only 27 runs on the board.

Indian captain Ishan Kishan could not come to his side’s rescue today. He played across the line to a fullish straight ball from Joseph, missed and was trapped in front. Ishan fell for four, and may have been unfortunate to leave as the tracker showed the ball pitched outside leg.

Joseph on fire…great use of short pitch bowling to slip in the full ball!

Beginning of the third over saw India’s Anmolpreet fall victim to a well directed short ball from Joseph. The ball had pace, bounce and movement to make a fool out of the batter. Anmolpreet offered to dolly catch and went back for three runs.

Indian batsmen were tested early with pace and bouncers. They could barely keep their heads above water.

A sharp bit of keeping gave West Indies the first wicket this morning. India’s Pant left the ball, offered no stroke and drifted out of the crease. West Indies keeper Imlach grabbed the ball and disturbed the stumps with his under-arm flick….Reverse mankading and full marks to the keeper.

India lost their in-form batter Pant in the first over for a single.

West Indies captain Shimron Hetmyer won the toss and decided to field first in the final against India at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Mirpur.

Teams

India: Ishan Kishan (capt), Rishabh Pant (wk), Khaleel Ahmed, Zeeshan Ansari, Rahul Batham, Ricky Bhui, Mayank Dagar, Armaan Jaffer, Sarfaraz Khan, Amandeep Khare, Avesh Khan, Mahipal Lomror, Shubham Mavi, Anmolpreet Singh and Washington Sundar

West Indies: Shimron Hetmyer (capt), Shahid Crooks, Keacy Carty, Michael Frew, Jyd Goolie, Tevin Imlach, Alzarri Joseph, Ryan John, Kirstan Kallicharan, Chemar Holder, Gidron Pope, Keemo Paul, Odean Smith, Shamar Springer and Emmanuel Stewart

England U19 Captain Brad Taylor won the toss and elected to bat first on the batting friendly wicket at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury stadium against West Indies U19 led by Simon Hetmyer. File Photo: STAR