The pundits predicted this final although the script was been almost re-written by
the Bangladeshi team last Tuesday in St Kitts when they came within two wickets
of an unlikely victory against Pakistan. Due to the absence of some of the major
test-playing teams at the 2008 CLICO International Under-15 Cricket
Championships, it seemed logical that these two long-time rivals would prevail in
the end.
On the way to this final, both teams had played brilliant cricket with West Indies
crushing Malaysia and the Americas team, and Pakistan defeating Ireland and
Bangladesh.
In the process Kraigg Brathwaite, John Campbell and Ramon Senior had
performed as expected for West Indies.
For Pakistan their spinning trio of Usman Qadir, Zafar Gohar and Mirza Jamil were
in tremendous form.
And so the stage was set for a re-play of the 2000 final at Lords in London, when
the West Indies defeated Pakistan and was crowned as winners of the
Costcutter Under-15 World Challenge Championship.
Needless-to-say, the teams did not disappoint and provided us with a
memorable game. Under excellent weather and batting conditions, Pakistan won
the toss and elected to bat. The Pakistani opening batsmen, Mohammad Naeem
and Mohammad Babar, started in splendid style and quickly got to 45 runs by the
eight over, at a scoring rate of 5.6 per over.
The West Indies opening bowlers, Omar Samuels and Kyle Mayers, were being
punished, with the former going at seven runs an over, and the West Indies
captain was forced to bring on left-arm spinner Derone Davis.
The West Indian bowlers managed to put the brake on the scoring rate of the
Pakistani batsmen, and with the fall of the first wicket with the score at 61, there
was a constant procession of wickets, Pakistan all out for 219 in 49.5 overs.
The spin combination of Derone Davis, Ramon Senior and Kaverm Hodge
accounted for six Pakistani wickets between them; Derone Davis finishing with
figures of 9.5-1-44-2, Ramon Senior 10-2-36-1, and Kaverm Hodge 10-1-39-3.
The successful Pakistani batsmen were Muhammad Babar and Muhammad Nawaz
who scored 70 and 58 respectively. Babar who opened the batting, played a fine
knock that included seven boundaries.
In their turn at the wicket, the Caribbean team faced a challenging total against
the Pakistani formidable bowling line-up. As was expected the critical match-up
was how the West Indian batsmen would perform against Qadir, Jamil and
Gohar, the terrible spin trio of the Pakistanis.
Qadir quickly made an impact with his wily variety of leg-spin bowling, by ripping
the heart out of the West Indies batting when he sent Sunil Ambris, Akeem
Saunders, Steven Katwaroo and Kaverm Hodge, back to the pavilion with a total
of 11 runs between them.
Qadir final figures read as 10-1-33-4.
Kraigg Braithwaite batted magnificently, as was expected, but when he was run
out at 77, the West Indies were 186 for 7; still needing 34 runs to win from 4.4
overs or 28 balls.
The excitement was now reaching fever pitch with a large crowd, largely
bolstered by schoolchildren in attendance, and when the eighth wicket fell at
208, West Indies was still short by 12 runs with eight (8) balls left.
The tension was now unbearable with Kyle Myers and Derone Davis fighting
gallantly to retain the World Under-15 Cricket title for West Indies.
However, Mirza Jamil had the final word when he had the last batsman stumped
off the last ball with three runs needed to take the West Indies home. The West
Indies were all out for 217 runs, Mirza finishing with figures of 10-0-4-
28
It was a match to remember, the game of cricket being the real winner, with the
best team had won on the day.
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