Match 5 of Youth ODI Series
Venue: Polo Farm Sports Club, Canterbury
Toss: England U19s won the toss and decided to field
Result: England U19s won by one wicket
Pace trio Andel Gordon, Johann Layne and Isai Thorne bowled superbly to push the fifth Youth ODI down to the wire, despite West Indies surrendering the Royal London U19 series to England on Tuesday.
This was the second agonizing one-wicket defeat by the Rising stars in this series, following a similar result on the second Youth ODI in Beckenham.
Left-arm quick Gordon (3-37) stood out bowling with good pace and swing, highlighted by his dismissal of England opener William Luxton clean bowled in the first over. He was well supported by his right-arm pace duo compatriots Layne (3-40) and Isai Thorne (2-40), as they kept West Indies in the contest by regularly taking wickets.
When Layne dismissed tail end batters Nathan Barnwell caught behind and Joshua Boyden comprehensively bowled in the space of two overs, West Indies were on the verge of pulling off a thrilling fightback win with England still needing 12 runs. However, George Bell’s unbeaten half-century of 60 (115 balls, 4×4) held his nerve alongside the number 11 batter Sonny Baker to take the home side over the line.
Earlier, Matthew Nandu 51 (58 balls, 3×4) became the second West Indies batsman to score a half-century on tour alongside Teddy Bishop. His 57-run third-wicket partnership with Ackeem Auguste 32 (41 balls, 3×4) had West Indies solidly placed at one stage on 101/2. But the innings never kicked on, with the captain on the day Giovonte Depeiza 34 (63 balls, 4×4) being the only other major contributor.
The two teams will return to the same venue on Friday for the series finale. The first ball is 10:30 am (5:30 Eastern Caribbean/4:30 am Jamaica).
Match Schedule and Results
Saturday, September 4: 1st Youth ODI – England won by 166 runs at Beckenham
Monday, September 6: 2nd Youth – England won by one wicket at Beckenham
Wednesday, September 8: 3rd Youth ODI – West Indies won by two wickets at Beckenham
Friday, September 10: 4th Youth ODI – England won by nine wickets at Canterbury
Tuesday, September 14: 5th Youth ODI – England won by one wicket at Canterbury
Friday, September 17: 6th Youth ODI – Canterbury