NORTH SOUND, Antigua – Skipper Joshua Dorne delivered a captain’s efficiency for the ages, producing with each bat and ball to steer the West Indies Underneath-19s to a dramatic three-wicket conquer Sri Lanka within the sixth Youth One-Day Worldwide on the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium.
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The tense win, sealed with eight balls to spare, handed the Caribbean facet an unassailable 4-2 lead within the seven-match sequence, rendering Monday’s finale a formality.
Dorne dominates with ball, then bat
Sri Lanka, needing victory to maintain the sequence alive, piled up a formidable 287 for six after being despatched in. Dorne, the off-spinner, was the decide of the assault, prying out two essential wickets – first breaking a 114-run opening stand when he had Dimantha Mahavithana stumped for 49, then eradicating Senuja Wekunagoda cheaply.
The vacationers, nevertheless, rode the fluent stroke play of Viran Chamuditha, who struck 88 off 85 balls, and a late surge from Vimath Dinsara, whose unbeaten 58 got here off simply 57 deliveries with 4 towering sixes, to set a testing complete.
However when the Windies slumped to 125 for 5 in reply, Sri Lanka appeared firmly in management. That was earlier than Dorne’s second of future arrived.
The precise-hander performed with authority and maturity past his years, hanging a match-winning 95 that anchored the chase. His innings mixed resilience with bursts of fresh hitting, and when he lastly departed simply shy of a century, the house facet nonetheless wanted 27 runs.
A partnership that modified the sport
Dorne’s 115-run sixth-wicket partnership with Jonathan van Lange proved the turning level. Van Lange’s fluent 50 off 43 balls relieved the strain, irritating the Sri Lankan bowlers who had dominated the early exchanges.
Van Lange finally fell to a return catch, however by then the tide had turned decisively within the Windies’ favor.
Even after Dorne’s dismissal, there was no panic. Shaquan Belle entered the fray and offered the ultimate flourish, smashing an unbeaten 21 off 13 balls to hold his facet throughout the road in a blaze of confidence and management.
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Sri Lanka’s shiny begin fades
Earlier, the guests had appeared poised to dictate the competition. The opening pair of Chamuditha and Mahavithana gave Sri Lanka the proper launch with a commanding century stand. But as soon as Chamuditha was bowled by Brendan Boodoo for 88, the innings faltered as three wickets fell for simply 10 runs.
Though Dinsara’s late assault restored momentum, Sri Lanka in the end fell wanting defending their complete because the Caribbean children, led by their indomitable captain, mounted an exhilarating counter-attack.
The three-wicket win ensured the West Indies will take the sequence no matter Monday’s consequence. For Dorne, it was a press release of management and all-around brilliance, confirming his pivotal position within the facet’s rise.
