ST GEORGE’S, Grenada – West Indies Under-19s secured a 5-2 Youth ODI series win over England in Grenada, sealing their dominance in the seven-match contest with a commanding 59-run victory in Saturday’s finale at the National Cricket Stadium.
Set 214 for victory, the visitors were dismissed for 154 in 44.1 overs. Middle-order batter Caleb Falconer worked hard for his 52 and Joseph Moores contributed 37, but England collapsed under pressure from bowlers Aadian Racha and Micah McKenzie who ripped through the innings and took four wickets apiece.
Their efforts shifted the momentum in the home side’s favour after England had looked comfortable at 68 for two.
Earlier in the day, pacer Alex French took a superb 3 for 21, while captain Farhan Ahmed finished with 2 for 37 to end the series as England’s leading wicket-taker with 12.
The West Indies’ victory completed a memorable campaign shaped by standout performances from captain Joshua Dorne and all-rounder Jonathan van Lange.
Dorne produced a magnificent unbeaten 102 to chase down 221 in the sixth ODI after West Indies had slumped to 89 for five. Supported by Kunal Tilokani’s 49 and later, Matthew Miller’s 43, the skipper’s heroics secured an unassailable 4-2 lead and a series win with one more game still to play.
Head coach Rohan Nurse expressed his satisfaction at the development shown by the players over the seven matches, especially after their 4-3 series victory over Sri Lanka earlier in the summer.
“It was a very consistent performance by the team in terms of meeting a lot of the targets we set and sometimes exceeding them,” Nurse said.
“We feel very proud of the group in the way they adapted in potentially challenging situations. They were able to find answers for the challenges that were put in front of them and there was bit more consistency throughout this series, as opposed to the series against Sri Lanka.”
Despite identifying some areas for improvement and imploring the players to maintain their physical condition in the present down period, Nurse was particularly impressed by the confidence exemplified by the team.
“What impressed me the most was the improved belief in their abilities. This was exemplified in game six, when the team was six for two after the first two overs, and still were able to get up to 80 within that first power play, with the loss of the same two,” Nurse explained.
“It showed that despite the loss of early wickets, they remained very confident in the game plan, their approaches and abilities and that exemplified the growth the team has made.”
“Also, when the team was rotated to give other players opportunities, we did not see a drop off in performance, which was pleasing to see that the group has evolved and improved.”
In the opening ODI on November 16, West Indies successfully chased 243 with four wickets in hand, driven by Dorne’s 90 and van Lange’s 52 in a crucial 117-run partnership for the fifth wicket.
Van Lange’s form continued in the second ODI with 57 not out off 34 balls, featuring five sixes, as the hosts took to a six-wicket victory via DLS method and a 2-0 series advantage.
England produced a strong response in the third match with a 130-run win after dismissing West Indies for 119 after the hosts were given 250 to chase for victory. The young men in maroon struck back emphatically with a 98-run victory in the fourth game, largely thanks to Dorne and van Lange who both scored 80 and spinner Vitel Lawes’ 4-35.
The visitors briefly revived the series with a thrilling chase in match five. Ben Dawkins hit a majestic 97 and Isaac Mohammed scored 74 to overhaul West Indies’ 276, but the hosts claimed the final two games of the series to assert their dominance.
The series victory demonstrated significant progress in the team’s intensity across all departments, particularly in their batting and spin bowling performance, while fielding remains an area requiring continued attention.
As the squad prepares for next month’s ICC Under 19 World Cup, the focus will shift from technical development to execution and application, with players returning to their territories to work on individual programs covering tactical, fitness and nutritional aspects during the Christmas period.
West Indies will play in Group D alongside Afghanistan, South Africa and Tanzania, against whom they will commence their tournament campaign on January 15.
