The third and final West Indies Under – 19 trial match ended on Tuesday in St. Vincent and Grenadines with Leonardo Julien of Trinidad and Antonio Morris of Barbados registering half-centuries.
The trial match is being used as part of the selection criteria for identifying the regional squad to take part in the 2020 ICC U19 showpiece event in South Africa.
Trinidadian seamer Jayden Seales was also among the top performers after snapping up a five-for.
The day began with the ‘Best One’ team, led by Kimani Melius, rocketing to 283 before being dismissed in the final over. Morris led the way with an almost run-a-ball knock of 81, inclusive of five fours and four maximums while Julien carved out three fours and the same amount of maximums in his knock of 75.
Melius (23), Elroy Francis (18) and Daniel Beckford (26) chipped in as Seales captured 5-23 from seven overs to end as one of the standout performers.
Guyanese Ashmead Nedd picked up 1-50 from nine overs while Joshua James (1-30), Zawandi White (1-50), and Nyeem Younge (1-61) captured the other wickets to fall.
‘Best Two’ team, which was captained by opening batsman Kirk McKenzie (29), ended 43 runs shy of their target after reaching 240 for nine at the end of
their fifty overs.
Mbeki Joseph was the innings’ top scorer after he produced a knock of 71 while Teddy Bishop (40) and Kevlon Anderson (32) contributed useful knocks.
Sachin Singh (0) who was agonizingly dismissed via the run-out route, missed out once again.
Young – a budding all-rounder – posted 28 as the impressive Matthew Forde was once again among the wickets, napping 3-51.
He received useful support from Guyanese Kelvin Umroa (2-43). The selectors are now expected to trim the 24-member squad as they continue their preparations for next year’s Youth World Cup in South Africa.
