Off-spinner Onaje Amory’s brilliant four-wicket haul proved futile as West Indies Rising Stars Under-19s lost a close encounter by one wicket to South Africa Under-19s on Thursday.
Defending 107 in the third contest, West Indies made a fist of it, largely courtesy of Amory’s four wickets for eight runs off four overs, but came up short as the visitors got home in the 19th over.
Opener Ethan Cunningham top-scored with a breezy 25 off 23 balls, but it was tailender Liam Alder, who struck unbeaten 24 off just 12 balls, which made the difference in the run chase towards the end.
Earlier, the hosts were dismissed for 106 in the 39th over, opener Shaqkere Parris top-scoring with 27, Teddy Bishop getting 26 and Giovonte Depeiza chipping in with 24.
Leg-spinner Dewald Brevis (3-6) and fast bowler Hendrick Coetzer (3-25) both claimed three wickets apiece to hurt the innings, while left-arm spinners Alder (2-23) and Asakhe Tshaka (2-25) supported with two wickets each.
Parris, who faced 47 balls and counted four fours, put on 37 for the first wicket with Matthew Nandu (10) but once they were separated, four wickets tumbled for 14 runs.
Bishop, who hit three fours off 52 balls, repaired the innings in a 46-run, fifth wicket stand with Depeiza, as West Indies staged a recovery. However, both fell in the space of four balls with the score on 97 as the last six wickets went down for nine runs.
In reply, fast bowler Johann Layne removed opener Jade Smith without scoring to the third ball of the run chase to rock the visitors before Cunningham, who struck three fours and a six, rallied the innings in a 38-run stand with Valentine Kitime (13).
Nandu broke the stand with his off-spin leading to a slide where eight wickets crashed for 63 runs, but Alder smacked two sixes in his knock to break the hosts’ resistance at the death.
South Africa lead the four-match series 2-1. The fourth and final match will be played at the Arnos Vale Stadium on Monday. First ball is 09:00h. (windiescricket.com)
