U-19 WORLD CUP: Yadram’s five, Athanaze’s 116 hand West Indies first win

Defending champions West Indies prevailed over Kenya in a one-sided contest in Lincoln, registering a 222-run win – their first in three games this tournament – courtesy Alick Athanaze’s unbeaten 116, and a combined nine wickets between Bhaskar Yadram and Jeavor Royal.

Despite the two points, West Indies are no longer in contention for a knockout berth as hosts New Zealand and South Africa lead them on the points table.

West Indies got off to a solid start after opting to bat, thanks to a quickfire fifty from Kimani Melius (60 off 45). His opening partner Keagan Simmons’ dismissal in the 15th over, however, led to the side losing their top three for four runs within the space of eight deliveries.

Kenya, on their part, failed to capitalise on the quick wickets, allowing Athanaze and Kirstan Kallicharan to hoist West Indies to 150 via a 68-run partnership. While Athanaze motored on, having struck an unbeaten 76 in the previous game, the lower-order duo of Royal and Nyeem Young chipped in with 24 and 57 respectively to help their side finish on 318-7. Aveet Desai, the pick of the Kenya bowlers, finished with figures of 3-54.

Subsequently, it took West Indies all of 24.4 overs to skittle the Kenya line-up with left-arm spinner Royal taking 4-25 in his 7.4 overs and Yadram ending with 5-18 from his seven overs. Only three of the Kenya batsmen mustered double-digit scores, with opener Aman Gandhi top-scoring with 37.

Rachin Ravindra helps NZ finish top of Group A

SUMMARY: New Zealand 279-8 (Ravindra 76, Bhula 44, Phillips 43, Molefe 2-49) beat South Africa 208 (Rolfes 108, du Plessis 54, Ravindra 4-32) by 71 runs.

Rachin Ravindra’s half-century and four-wicket haul vaulted New Zealand to the top of Group A, thereby setting up a quarter-final against Afghanistan in Christchurch. South Africa, who fell short by 71 runs to finish the preliminary stage with two wins in three matches, will play Pakistan. 

New Zealand’s margin of victory after they posted 279-8 could have been much bigger if not for Hermann Rolfes, who struck a 124-ball 108 to lift South Africa from the pits of 76-4 in the 23rd over.

In Jean du Plessis, he found a steady accumulator who was more than happy to remain in the background. During the first 50 runs of their 106-run stand, Rolfes’ share was more than three quarters of it. (ESPNCricinfo)