ST GEORGE’S – West Indies Under-19 captain Joshua Dorne delivered a gem of an innings on Saturday, crafting a scintillating, unbeaten century to lift his team to a stirring four-wicket victory over England Under-19s in the sixth Youth One-Day International at the National Cricket Stadium.
His commanding 102 not out from 101 balls steered the home side past England’s 221, guiding them to 222 for six in just 38.1 overs, and securing an insurmountable 4-2 advantage in the seven-match series.
The chase began with calamity. Zachary Carter fell without scoring in the second over, edging James Minto behind. Moments later, Minto claimed fellow opener Tanez Francis in identical fashion, leaving the hosts wobbling at six for two.
Tilokani’s spark, England’s fightback
Seeking stability, Dorne joined Kunal Tilokani in a crucial 79-run stand that restored order and briefly balanced the contest. Tilokani counterpunched superbly, belting 49 from only 29 deliveries before Manny Lumsden removed him, a dismissal that ignited fresh turbulence.
In quick succession, Shamar Apple departed for one and Jonathan van Lange for a first-ball duck, the sudden collapse leaving the West Indies in peril at 89 for five. England held the ascendancy, and the Windies’ chase hung by a thread.
Dorne and Miller engineer the turnaround
Just when the match seemed to tilt decisively toward the visitors, Dorne found an ideal ally in Matthew Miller. Their 92-run sixth-wicket partnership not only revived the innings but completely transformed the contest. Miller played with assurance and purpose, compiling 43 from 48 balls before being run out, by which time the West Indies had surged to 181 for six and seized control of the match.
The finish was then shaped by a composed Shaquan Belle, whose patient, unbeaten 14 off 34 balls complemented his captain’s brilliance. Together they added an unbroken 41, closing out the victory with calm assurance.
Dorne’s century arrived in emphatic fashion in the 37th over, as he lashed Minto for two boundaries and sprinted a hard-run two to reach three figures. Belle later applied the finishing touch with the winning stroke, sealing a memorable recovery.
Van Lange leads the bowling charge
Earlier, van Lange’s incisive spell of four for 17 restrained England and ensured their total remained within reach. The visitors initially struggled, slipping to 82 for four, before rallying through captain Farhan Ahmed and Joe Moores.
Ahmed crafted a fighting 54 and Moores added a purposeful 42, their 92-run stand lifting England to 198 for five by the 43rd over. When Miller removed Ahmed, van Lange ruthlessly dismantled the tail, claiming Ralphie Albert, Lumsden, and Alex Green in rapid succession to close the innings.
Miller chipped in with two for 15, while Vitel Lawes contributed figures of two for 38.
The seventh and final Youth ODI is scheduled for Monday.
