Under-19 World Cup

[The Professor]

Always an exciting competition as the next generation of Cricketers are pitted off against each other. The official first match of the tournament was a doozy with the hosts West Indies up against Australia.

The Windies won the toss and batted first but made heavy weather of it by only posting 169 in their 50 overs. Australia made heavy weather of the chase but got their with 5 overs to spare largely thanks to 17 year old Teague Wyllie who got an unbeaten 86* in his debut for the U19s.

In the other game, Sri Lanka posted 218 in their first dig and knocked Scotland all out for 178 in the 48th. Dunith Wellalage, a veteran of the Under 19 scene (if that isn’t a contradiction) marked the occasion with a fivefer.

There are four games today with India and South Africa being the top billing.

[mikesiva]

Australia waltzed to victory against the West Indies.

Poor batting is a problem with the juniors too.

The ambidextrous Radhikrishnan is an interesting player to watch.

[The Professor]

The junior Indians showed their senior compatriots how it's done with a comfortable win over South Africa. Vicky Otswal, who had such a good end to the Under 19 Asia Cup, was back with a vengeance as he struck in all of his spells, ending with figures of 5-28. South Africa finished 45 runs short of their target of 232.

Papua New Guinea have marked themselves as the whipping boys of the tournament as they got slaughtered by Zimbabwe. The African nation put themselves in to bat and then scorched a total of 321 on the board thanks to a century from captain Emmanuel Bawa. In reply PNG took their time, potentially waiting for another rain delay but we're eventually all out for 93 in 35 overs.

The UAE beat Canada with Ireland beating Uganda in the other two games.

Ireland's Josh Cox joined Bawa in making a century today with his 11 being the highest score of the tournament.

[mikesiva]

West Indies go home early in their home tournament.

Still, there's a plate competition, thankfully.

Sri Lanka are doing well.