U-19 Bangladesh clinch series 4-3 against Windies

Georgetown (Guyana), Oct 22 - West Indies Under-19 squandered their advantage from a destructive bowling spell by Jerome Jones, ending with a disappointing 67 run loss to Bangladesh who clinched the series at Everest ground here.

Jones destroyed the Bangladesh innings with a scintillating five wicket haul highlighted by a hat-trick. But a miserable run chase by the home side fell woefully short of the target Monday.

The visitors decided to bat first and were bowled out for 168. Bangladesh bowlers then rattled the Caribbean side’s top order and ran through the line up for a paltry 101 runs to secure the seven match series 4-3.

A 33-run partnership in the middle of the innings between Jeremy Solozano and captain Ramaal Lewis attempted to salvage some pride but hardly represented a fight back as the Windies soon crumbled under the Bangladesh attack.

Lewis scored a fighting 19 while Solozano stuck it out to be unbeaten on 33 but Nehad Zaman and captain Mehedi Hasan Miraj of Bangladesh led the way as the West Indies were outplayed.

Jones’ five wicket haul went in vain as most batsmen scored in single digits including three ducks — Taryck Gabriel, Jones and Alzarri Joseph. Nehad finished with leading figures of 5/12 while Miraj grabbed 4/25.

Earlier, Bangladesh U-19 enjoyed a reasonably good start from an opening partnership of 48 between Emon Ahmed and vice captain Jasim Uddin. When Emon, who struck four fours, was caught by Nicholas Pooran off Joseph for 26, the innings received a boost from a half century stand between Jasim and Sadman Anik.

Anik hit a top score of 48 while Jasim scored 33 but the end of the partnership signalled the start of a batting collapse against a bowling assault led by Jones, Joseph and Fabian Allen.

Allen was on the verge of a hat-trick while Jones completed a hat-trick as two wickets fell with the score on 100. The last three batsmen were removed with the total remaining on 168.

Jones’s figures read 5/23 while Allen’s read 2/27. Joseph also snared 2/48.

Bangladesh captain Mehedi Hasan Miraj, who was impressive with bat and ball throughout the series, was named man of the match and the man of the series.