WINDHOEK, Namibia — The West Indies Under-19s showed early intent but were ultimately outmatched as Afghanistan stormed to a commanding 138-run victory in their ICC Men’s U19 World Cup Group D encounter under the Windhoek sun on Wednesday.
What began as a disciplined bowling effort unraveled as the innings progressed, allowing Afghanistan to recover and post an imposing 262 for six, a total that proved well beyond the Caribbean side’s reach.
Bowlers strike early, momentum slips away
West Indies initially applied pressure through spinner Vitel Lawes and left-arm seamer Jakeem Pollard, who combined to claim six wickets and briefly stem Afghanistan’s momentum.
However, a resolute middle-order partnership swung the contest decisively. The Windies struggled to adjust their plans quickly enough, and Afghanistan capitalized, accelerating through the latter stages of the innings to build a commanding platform.
Reflecting on that turning point, wicketkeeper-batter Jewel Andrew identified a costly delay in adapting to conditions.
“I think the powerplay was good for us, and we tend to pull it back in the last few overs, but we took too long to adjust to the surface and that kind of let the score get away a bit,” Andrew said.
Conditions familiar, execution not
Andrew acknowledged that the pitch presented challenges, but not unfamiliar ones.
“The wicket was slow, low as well, and that is something that we normally play with in the Caribbean,” he explained. “I think we took too long to adjust to something that we know, and that kind of hampered us.”
He also suggested that greater tactical flexibility in the field could have altered the flow of the innings.
“I think we planned to bowl a certain way, but we could have strayed from the plan a bit earlier. We saw today that spin worked out for us, so that’s something we could try to implement coming into the next game.”
Andrew’s lone resistance in failed chase
Chasing 263, the West Indies batting line-up never found sustained momentum. Wickets fell steadily, and partnerships failed to materialize against Afghanistan’s disciplined attack.
Andrew stood as the lone figure of resistance, top-scoring with a determined 57 that briefly steadied the innings but ultimately could not prevent collapse. His knock, though resolute, underscored the broader struggle of a young line-up searching for fluency and confidence.
Spirit intact despite heavy defeat
Despite the severity of the loss, Andrew was adamant that the team’s belief and energy remain intact as the tournament continues.
“Definitely. We look to each other for answers,” he said. “The coaches set guides for us to capitalise on, and it’s just for us to go back and reflect and come for the next one.”
He reaffirmed that preparation had not been the issue and stressed the importance of confidence moving forward.
“Our preparations coming into this game were good, so it’s just about remaining confident going into the next one, and hopefully we can get over the line.”
For the young Windies, the defeat served as a sobering reminder of the demands of World Cup cricket, and a challenge to summon greater fight as their campaign presses on.
