DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, CMC- Two wickets in two balls by seamer Ray Jordan deprived Afghanistan as West Indies clinched a nine-run victory in their 5th place play-off match in the ICC Under-19 World Cup at the ICC Academy Ground No2 here yesterday.
Afghanistan were inching towards a win at 204 for 7, but Jordan struck off successive deliveries in the 47th over to derail their chase after West Indies were bowled out for 215.
A responsible half century from Fabian Allen laid the foundation for the West Indies total and rekindled a failing innings after they won the toss and elected to bat.
Opener Shahidullah scored 51 to lift Afghanistan but the loss of wickets at regular intervals saw them precariously placed at 97 for 5. Hashmatullah Shaidi top scored with an unbeaten 52 and the captain Nasir Jamal chipped in with 30 but the team was eventually set back by Jordan who finished with three wickets for 44 runs.
Captain Ramaal Lewis picked up two wickets for 38 runs while a wicket each went to Marquino Mindley, Bryan Charles, Jeremy Solozano and Gudakesh Motie who trapped Fareed Ahmad lbw for a duck with two overs remaining to dismiss Afghanistan for 206.
Earlier, Allen’s 92 steered West Indies back on course after they slumped to 42 for the loss of four wickets including three of their top five batsmen for ducks.
Allen hit eight fours and four sixes, and combined with Tristan Coleman in a 68th run partnership for the 5th wicket.
Coleman contributed 37.
Allen, who was named player-of-the match, also featured in a 6th wicket stand that yielded 52 runs with Lewis who scored 27 as the West Indies got to 215.
Fareed Ahmad and Mohammad Mujtaba each grabbed three wickets for Afghanistan.
