COOLIDGE, Antigua, CMC – Cricket West Indies captain Nyeem Young said his side was looking to win the second four-day, first-class match against Emerging Ireland, starting today in Antigua, and sweep the series.
CWI Academy lead the two-match series 1-0 after they stormed to an innings and 134-run win in the first match, which ended this past Monday at the Coolidge Cricket Ground, where the two sides will again play.
“It’s a good continuation from the Headley-Weekes series where we were very successful as a four-day team,” Young told CWI Media.
“We had some really good performances from the boys, and we’re just looking forward to continuing doing what we’ve been doing so far.”
Joshua Bishop, more known for his left-arm spin, led the way for the CWI Academy in the batting with a maiden first-class hundred that anchored the hosts 409 in their first innings and a lead of 196.
Pacer Isai Thorne followed up with a four-wicket burst that sent Emerging Ireland crashing for 62 in their second innings and set up the win for the Academy.
“He has some good pace and some good skills, and he’s also quite young,” Young said about Thorne. “It’s very good to have him around the squad as he brings some good energy on the field especially when he has the ball.
“Taking eight wickets on first-class debut is an amazing feat, and I’m looking forward to see how he goes.”
The series is an opportunity for emerging talent in the West Indies pathway system to gain high-quality playing time, along with the experience of playing against counterparts from another destination of the cricket-playing world.
The CWI Academy squad comprises mainly of the players in the West Indies Academy programme with some first-class experience, and others that have graduated from the Under-19 level with some distinction.