da betano casino： The West Indies’ powerful batting line-up proved too strong for USA, who were beaten by the convincing margin of 87 runs
Sa'adi Thawfeeq06-Feb-2006
ScorecardThe West Indies displayed their brutal batting power in their Under-19World Cup group match on Monday when they ran up an impressive totalof 302 for 7 to beat USA by 87 runs – but not before going throughsome anxious moments.The USA, for all their inexperience, had the West Indies rattled tosome extent when they ran up 150 for 3 after 25 overs. If it was aTest-playing nation they would have sailed through and won. But USA,who are playing in this tournament for the first time, lacked thatlittle bit of experience to pace out their innings gradually afterbatting themselves into a winning position. Once their captain, HemantPunoo – who made an attractive 65 off 52 balls and Akeem Dodson (43with 5 fours) were dismissed, the rest of the batting folded tamely.However, the USA should be proud of the way they played against a fullmember country getting to a respectable 215 before being bowled out inthe 46th over. They could consider this performance an achievement inthe annals of their cricket history.They were helped to a great extent by the West Indies bowlers who hadtrouble controlling the ball. They conceded 38 wides accounting for anunusual 55 extras which, so far in the tournament, has been a commonproblem. It must constitute some kind of a record at this level ofcricket.The West Indies came into this game riding on totals of 293 againstSri Lanka and 310 for 8 against New Zealand and they continued in thesame vein to put the hapless USA bowlers to the sword. After finishingrunners-up to Pakistan in the last Under-19 World Cup, held inBangladesh two years ago, West Indies are determined to go the fulldistance and finish it off this time. However, they have their workcut out; they are drawn in a tough group with Australia and SouthAfrica.The West Indies were power-driven by a superb century from opener WilliamPerkins who made a tournament top-score of 133 off 150 balls todeservedly take the Man-of-the-Match award. This innings wasconstructed after USA had somewhat stunned their opponents with two earlywickets in the third over to have them struggling at 8 for 2.USA’s joy was short-lived, however, as Perkins – along with Jason Mohammed(45) and Gajanand Singh (65) – turned the game around with two century stands that lifted the total to 263 for 4 by the 46th over. The Perkins-Mohammed stand produced124 off 144 balls and the Perkins-Singh partnership a further 144 off116 balls.What was so evident from the the West Indies’ batsmen was the power of their shot-making, which they will hope to continue into their next match against Australia on Wednesday.