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Australia U-19 cricket team started their ICC U-19 World Cup journey convincingly after beating West Indies U-19 team by 6 wickets in the first match of the tournament. Chennai-born Nivethan Radhakrishnan, skipper Cooper Connolly and Tom Whitney picked up three wickets each to restrict their opponents within a total of 169 runs in 40.1 overs.
West Indies skipper Ackeem Auguste won the toss and decided to bat first but the decision seemed to backfire as within first six overs they lost their first three wickets. Australia’s right-arm fast bowler Tom Whitney did the initial damage as he picked up two out of the first three wickets and gave his side an early advantage.
A strong partnership
Skipper Auguste along with Rivaldo Clarke then played a solid partnership of 95 runs off 100 balls and successfully managed to avert the early danger. Wicketkeeper Clarke (37 off 42) was the first one to be dismissed after right-arm offbreak bowler Radhakrishnan provided the crucial breakthrough to break the partnership.
Clarke’s mistimed drive was comfortably caught by Isaac Higgins.
Auguste (57 off 67) on the other hand, looked solid and went on to complete his half century as well. But eventually he was dismissed by Connolly.
Auguste played a slog sweep but it was not connected properly and as a result of that the ball went high up in the air and was eventually caught by the fielder standing at deep square leg.
West Indies came to an end in the 41st over after they managed to put up a total of 169 all out.
Aussie reply
In reply, Aussies lost their first wicket in the third over after their opening batsman Corey Miller was sent back to the dressing room without scoring a single run.
Another opening batsman Teague Wyllie looked solid as he went on to score 86 off 129 balls and remained not out till the end. His match-winning knock was comprised of 8 fours.
Wyllie got a good support from skipper Connolly (23 off 31 balls) and Nivethan Radhakrishnan (31 off 58 balls). Losing four wickets, the Aussies eventually reached the required target within 44.5 overs.
In another match, Sri Lanka defeated Scotland by 40 runs.
