Australian youngsters impress with opening-day win over hosts West Indies
The three-time champions breezed past West Indies by six wickets to get their tournament off to a flyer and inflict an early blow on the hosts in Guyana.
Cooper Connolly’s side required just 40.1 overs to take all ten West Indian wickets and, inspired by opener Teague Wyllie, chased down their target of 170 to win with ease.
Match Highlights | WI v AUS | ICC U19 Men's CWC 2022
Watch the Match Highlights from West Indies vs. Australia, 01/14/2022
West Indies were punished for a below-par batting performance as Australia cruised to a comfortable triumph in Providence.
After Ackeem Auguste’s side had been bowled out for just 169 – with almost ten full overs to spare – Wyllie’s polished 86 not out helped Australia complete the most impressive display of the day and win within 45 overs.
Australia’s seamers had caused havoc with the new ball as opening bowlers Tom Whitney (3/20) and William Salzmann (1/19) reduced the hosts to 12/3 after 5.1 overs.
Skipper Auguste’s defiant 57, bolstered by wicketkeeper Rivaldo Clarke’s 37, propelled them to a fourth-wicket partnership of 95, but wickets at regular intervals after Clarke’s dismissal proved the West Indians’ downfall.
Ambidextrous spin wizard: Nivethan Radhakrishnan | ICC U19 Men's Cricket World Cup 2022
Australian captain Connolly and off-spinner Nivethan Radhakrishna took three wickets apiece as West Indies, winners of the ICC U19 Men’s CWC in 2016, were unable to muster a match-winning total.
And that inability was ruthlessly capitalised on by the Australians, who overcame the early dismissals of top-order batters Corey Miller and Isaac Higgins to power to a straightforward victory.
Wyllie’s impressive innings was assisted by Radhakrishnan’s 31 and Connolly’s 23 as Australia, crowned champions back in 1988, 2002 and 2010, got their tournament off to the perfect start in the Caribbean.
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Saturday 15 January matches
Start time: 09h00 local time
- India v South Africa, Guyana National Stadium, Guyana
- Ireland v Uganda, Everest Cricket Club, Guyana
- Canada v UAE, Conaree Cricket Center, St Kitts and Nevis
- Zimbabwe v PNG, Queens Park Oval, Trinidad and Tobago