Six years ago, back in 2016, the West Indies emerged as ICC U19 World Cup Champions. Now playing in the prestigious biennial youth tournament’s current edition, the 2022 competition being played in their own backyard, the West indies have found themselves knocked out of the top ten rankings following their 82 run shock loss to the UAE.
The two teams met in Trinidad on January 28 in a winner take all Plate semi-final Playoff for the ninth spot in the tournament’s rankings. A brilliant innings from Aayan Afzal Khan , however, helped UAE to one of the biggest wins in their history as they beat the West Indies by 82 runs.
Having edged past Uganda by a wicket to seal their spot in the semis, UAE endured a torrid start against the tournament hosts when Shiva Shankar (3-31) struck early and often to leave the visitors scrambling at 26 for four. But it was at that point that Aayan came to the crease, and his 93 turned the game on its head. Ayan’s 103-run partnership with Shival Bawa (51) for the seventh wicket ensured that the South Asians would have something to defend.
Aayan was the last man to fall in a UAE first- innings effort of 224 for nine, a target that proved far too much for the Windies.
Jash Giyanani (3-21) made the early inroads as the home side quickly found themselves struggling 32 for four. And unlike the UAE, they had no Aayan to save the day, as Dhruv
Parashar (4-30) picked up the baton with the ball.
In fact the most resistance from the West Indies
came from the final pair, Nathan Edward hitting an
unbeaten 51 as he and No.11 Isai Thorne put on 70
for the final wicket before fittingly Aayan sealed the
win.
UAE was next slated to meet the winner of Ireland
against Zimbabwe in the Plate final, while the West
Indies take on the loser in the play-off for 11th
position in the Tournament’s rankings
Shock Loss To UAE Knocks West Indies Rising Stars Out Of ICC U19 Top Ten Rankings!
