PIETERMARITZBURG – Opener Bhaskar Yadram struck a critical half-century but West Indies Under-19 were forced to overcome a late innings slump before pulling off a two-wicket win over South Africa Under-19s in the second Youth One-Day International here Wednesday.
Set a modest 208 for victory, the Young Windies were coasting along at 165 for three in the 39th over but suffered a collapse where five wickets tumbled for 35 runs in the space of 31 balls.
Tottering on 200 for eight in the 44th, the Caribbean side were rescued by the lion-hearted Jeavor Royal who ended unbeaten on 31 off 17 deliveries, to take the team over the line.
Yadram had earlier top-scored with 81 off 116 balls while captain Emmanuel Stewart chipped in with 45 off 69 balls.
Sixteen-year-old fast bowler Gerald Coetzee led the attack with two for 55.
South Africa Under-19s 207 for eight off 50 overs (Wandile Makwetu 53, Matthew Breetzke 37, Jiveshan Pillay 36; Joshua Bishop 2-30, Jeavor Royal 2-34). West Indies Under-19s 208 for eight off 44.4 overs (Bhaskar Yadram 81, Emmanuel Stewart 45, Jeavor Royal 31 not out; Gerald Coetzee 2-55). West Indies Under-19s won by two wickets.
Lost opening match
West Indies lost the first One-Day International in Durban by five wickets.
Kirstan Kallicharan’s hundred was not enough to prevent West Indies Under-19s from tumbling to defeat.
The 17-year-old struck 101 as the Caribbean side, sent in at Chatsworth Stadium, reached 222 for eight off their 50 overs.
Jeavor Royal, batting at number seven, chipped in with a breezy 28 off 32 balls but he and Kallicharan were the only ones to pass 20 as the innings struggled to recover from a poor start.
Fast bowler Thando Ntini, the son of legendary South Africa seamer Makhaya Ntini, was the leading bowler with four for 56.
In reply, captain Raynard van Tonder hammered 131 not out as the hosts coasted to their target in the 42nd over.
West Indies Under-19s 222 for eight off 50 overs (Kirstan Kallicharan 101, Jeavor Royal 28; Thando Ntini 4-56). South Africa Under-19s 223 for five off 41.1 overs (Raynard van Tonder 131 not out, Wandile Makwetu 35, Hermann Rolfes 28; Darren Nedd 2-40, Joshua Bishop 2-50). South Africa Under-19s won by five wickets. (CMC/SAT)
