England Men’s Under-19s staged a spirited fightback in Grenada on Thursday, clinging to their Youth ODI series hopes with a gripping two-wicket victory over the West Indies U19s in the fifth match of the seven-game contest.
The triumph, sealed with just an over to spare, owed everything to a towering opening stand from Ben Dawkins and Isaac Mohammed, whose fearless stroke play set the tone for a chase of 276 for nine.
A partnership of purpose: 151 runs that changed the script
The Young Lions’ reply roared to life through Dawkins and Mohammed, who stitched together a commanding 151-run partnership that disarmed the hosts and kept England well ahead of the rate. Mohammed’s 74 was a blend of composure and controlled aggression, punctuated by five soaring sixes. Dawkins, once again England’s picture of consistency, was agonizingly denied a century when he fell for 97, an innings lined with nine fours and three sixes.
The opener’s dismissal, adjudged caught behind off Jakeem Pollard after a tentative appeal, triggered a flurry of wickets that momentarily restored belief for the home side.
Lower order holds its nerve
But when the pressure tightened, England’s lower order showed clarity and calm. Luke Hands and Manny Lumsden, who had earlier delivered with the ball by taking two wickets each, returned to finish the job with ice-cold assurance. Their decisive contribution, 13 runs carved from the penultimate over, dragged England across the line and injected fresh life into the series.
Series back in the balance
The victory carries extra weight given the heartbreak England suffered earlier in the tour, having lost the first two matches in the final over. Now, with the series delicately poised at 3-2 in favor of the West Indies, the sixth Youth ODI on Saturday sets the stage for another gripping showdown.
