Jewel Andrew hits superb ton, but West Indies start U-19 World Cup with defeat

A counter-attacking century from Antiguan Jewel Andrew could not secure West Indies victory in their opening match of the ICC Under-19 World Cup against hosts South Africa on Friday.

Playing at Senwes Park, Potchefstroom, West Indies were dismissed for 254 in 40.1 overs after the Proteas batted first and posted 285-9 from 50 overs.

West Indies lost their top-order Adrian Weir (0), Stephan Pascal (6), Joshua Dorne (9), Jordan Johnson (21) and Steve Wedderburn (12) to slip to 73-5 by the 10^th over, and were in danger of a massive defeat, before Andrew played a World Cup special to keep South Africa at bay.

The 17-year-old right-handed wicketkeeper struck a superb 130 off 96 balls (14x4s, 3x6s) and dominated a sixth-wicket partnership of 117 off 19 overs with Nathan Sealy, who made 33 off 80 (2x4s).

However, once that partnership was broken, West Indies innings subsided, eventually losing by 31 runs with 59 balls remaining.

Left-arm seamer Kwena Maphaka took 5-38 off 9.1 overs, while Riley Norton bagged 3-66.

Earlier, West Indies Under-19s opted to bowl first with Sealy taking 3-34 (10), Deshawn James 2-3 (6) and Nathan Edward 2-63 (10).

Dewan Marais topscored for South Africa Under-19s with 65 off 38 (4x4s, 4x6s), Juan James made 47 off 54 (3x4s, 1×6), David Teeger scored 44 off 98 (3x4s) and Lhuan-dre Pretorious 40 off 34 (6x4s, 1×6).

West Indies, winners of the tournament in 2016, next play Scotland on January 24 in Potchefstroom.

In the other game on Friday, Ireland Under-19s defeated USA Under-19s by seven wickets in Bloemfontein.

SUMMARY: USA Under-19s 105 all out from 40.2 overs (Khush Bhalala 22; Oliver Riley 3-21, Reuben Wilson 3-23) vs Ireland Under-19s 109-3 from 22.5 overs (Ryan Hunter 50*, Philippus le Roux 23*, Kian Hilton 23; Arya Garg 2-31)