JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (CMC):
West Indies Under-19s endured a setback to their preparations for the ICC Men’s Under-19 Cricket World Cup when their second and final warm-up match against Nepal Under-19s was rained out and ended in a no-result yesterday.
Only 10 overs were possible, and the Caribbean side, looking to secure the title for the second time, reached 33 for one after they were put in to bat at the St Stithians Main Oval, but the adverse weather did not relent.
The weather did not stop Zimbabwe from grabbing a 12-run win against the United States under the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern Method in the only result possible out of the four matches scheduled on the third day of warm-up matches ahead of the tournament.
West Indies were looking forward to the contest in a final tune up before the tournament started after a destructive spell from vice-captain Nathan Sealy set them up for a morale-boosting six-wicket win against New Zealand Under-19s on Sunday at the Braam Fisherville Sports Complex.
Stephen Pascal’s side face hosts South Africa this coming Friday at the J.B. Marks Oval in Potchefstroom in their opening match in the World Cup.
For their first-round matches – all to be played at the J.B. Marks Oval – West Indies have been drawn alongside the South Africans, Scotland, and England in Group B in the World Cup.
They face the Scots on January 24 and the English two days later.
The top three sides from each first-round group will progress to the Super Six stage to be played from 30 January to 3 February.
The semi-finals, on February 6 and 8, and the final, on February 11, will all be played at Willowmore Park in Benoni.