Towering fast bowler Jason Holder dismantled England’s top and lower order in two irresistible spells that swept the West Indies to victory by 18 runs over England in the ICC Under-19 World Cup quarter-final yesterday.
In a match reduced to 36 overs an innings by overnight and morning rain, a third wicket partnership of 103 in 19.4 overs between consistent opener Kraigg Brathwaite (69 off 94 balls with four fours) and captain Andre Creary (52 off 53 balls, two sixes, five fours) put the West Indies in a strong position before a dramatic collapse in which their last eight wickets tumbled for 34 runs.
The all-out total of 166 seemed inadequate against opponents who had won all of their three qualifying round matches. But vice-captain Holder proceeded to undermine England with his accuracy and variations.
The six foot, six inch Barbadian despatched openers Joe Root with his second ball and Chris Dent with his tenth to immediately restore the balance, returning to round off the innings with the last three wickets from six balls, two bowled, the other lbw.
His final figures of five for 19 from 6.1 overs were the best of the tournament and set up a semi-final meeting at the Bert Sutcliffe Oval in Christ Church tomorrow against Pakistan, who beat them in the opening match of the qualifying round by 40 runs.
Pakistan defeated India by two wickets yesterday in a last over thriller in the other quarter-final, reduced to 22 overs an innings by the weather.
In damp, chilly weather at the Mainpower Oval in the south island town of Rangiora, West Indies were sent in and Brathwaite and Creary duly followed their game plan.
While Brathwaite was once more the anchor for the innings, following earlier scores of 92 not out against Pakistan and 82 against Papua New Guinea, Creary was the aggressor.
But the innings imploded once they were out within six runs of each other in successive overs. Holder’s 11 off 12 balls, batting at No.9, was the only double-figure score after that.
Medium-pacer Ben Stokes accounted for Creary to a wicket-keeper’s catch and added the wickets of wicket-keeper Shane Dowrich and Akeem Dewar to finish with three for 29. Fast bowler David Payne removed opener Trevon Grifith and John Campbell cheaply and collected two more wickets in his second spell for figures of four 19.
Holder’s two wickets and two by Nevisian Nelson Bolan, on his tournament debut, immediately set England back at 38 for four.
Although James Vince, Ateeq Javed, Stokes and captain Azeem Rafiq all got into the 20s, the combined spin of John Campbell, Akeem Dewar and Jermaine Blackwood kept them in check with middle order wickets. Dowrich was sharp with three catches and a stumping.
When Campbell bowled Danny Briggs at 119 for seven, the match seemed in the balance, with England needing 48 off 8.2 overs, until Holder returned for his final demolition job.
Second quarter-final: summarised scores:
At Bert Sutcliffe Oval, Christ Church. Pakistan beat India by two wickets (match reduced to 23 overs an innings). India 114 for 9 off 23 overs (Handeep Singh 40; Fayyaz Butt 4-0-27-4, Raza Hasan 5-0-26-3). Pakistan 117-8 off 22.3 overs (Ahsan Ali 30; Sandeep Sharma 4.3-0-24-2; JD Unagkat 5-1-26-2).