******Under 19 World Cup******

Televised stage kicked off with Windies South Africa.

Poor fielding, catching early on later improved. At one point I thought it was Permaul bowling, Ramdin keeping.

Spinners were very ordinary Lewis although Kanhai had good variations very little turn.

Jordan looked sharp but he had better watch that action as he chucked a few.

South Africa hardly looked as if they will get to 140 but Windies let slip a bit.

Terrible loss for the youngsters.

The Coca-Cola South Africa under-19s got their ICC U19 World Cup campaign off to a flying start when they convincingly beat the West Indies by 94 runs at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Friday.

South Africa top the Group C log by virtue of a superior run rate to Zimbabwe, who beat Canada by six wickets.

South Africa did well to post a 198-run total after tough start. They lost two wickets in the first six overs when captain, Aiden Markram was dismissed by Ray Jordan for three in the second over, followed by Clyde Fortuin (4) in the sixth.

The opening day of the Under-19 World Cup saw an exhibition of pace in Dubai as South Africa's bowlers, led by Kagiso Rabada, proved that a below-par 198 was indeed defendable. South Africa's batsmen, too, were subject to a pace barrage from Ray Jordan and Jerome Jones, but Rabada's blows were more incisive as they left West Indies reeling at 1 for 3, thus making the target seem insurmountable.

While South Africa's senior team were being made to duck and weave against Mitchell Johnson in Centurion at the same time, fans keeping an eye on the juniors would have had something to smile about. Rabada, the 18-year-old right-arm fast bowler, clocked around 136 kph on an average, also getting disconcerting bounce on a fresh surface. The West Indies top order had little time to adjust and the game was all but over after Rabada's first spell. It also compensated for South Africa's horror show with their running between the wickets earlier in the day. Three run-outs, in the space of four overs, had reduced them to a sorry 110 for 7 and had it not been for Yaseen Valli's 53, South Africa may have been defending a sub-150 total.

Liiiiiixxxxx ! 

We will rebound bhai, moti will only improve

Jordan looks ok and Pooran was shaping up well but not sure what the Captain Lewis is in for.


I hope Jordan does not become one of those who eventually fails due to action issues.

  Afghanistan Under-19s 212 (50.0 ov)  Bangladesh Under-19s 216/0 (42.3 ov)  Bangladesh Under-19s won by 10 wickets (with 45 balls remaining) 

Well done Bangla boys.....


I would like to have seen Afghanistan do well.

Being an ardent cricket fan, I get very excited when the Under-19 world cup comes around. It gives us the opportunity of having a look at possibly, the future stars of world cricket. Its the competition which allows the young players to get a feeling of what its like playing cricket under international rules and regulations. Though I am not able to watch all the matches, I try to tune into matches when I get the time.