Ollie Peake leads Australia to U19 WC semifinals despite a brave fight by West Indies led by Zachary Carter.
Australia became the first team to secure a semi-final position in the Men’s Under-19 World Cup with to captain Oliver Peake’s 109 and fast bowler Charles Lachmund’s four-for. They were put under pressure by West Indies but piled the pressure back on them in a 315-run chase that was 22 runs too many in the end.
Will Malajczuk gave Australia a quick start with a 30-ball 48 after being put into bat. His partner, Nitesh Samuel, contributed by scoring 56 off 74 and participating in 50-plus stands for the first and third wickets.
After coming in at No. 4 after 11 overs, Peake batted for the remaining 166 minutes of the innings, scoring 109 off 117 balls. In addition to Samuel, he had company from Jayden Draper (29 off 23 balls) and Alex Lee Young (45 off 47).
At the top, R’Jai Gittens claimed two crucial wickets, including Malajczuk. With 2 for 37, Jakeem Pollard was the West Indies’ most economical bowler.
West Indies were ahead for the opening part of the chase after getting off to a fast start. Zachary Carter and Tanez Francis had an 88-run opening stand, and then Carter and Jewel Andrew had a quick 35-run collaboration.
Joshua Dorne, the captain, scored a half-century at No. 4 after Carter’s 42-ball 64 and Andrew’s 38-ball 44, but his 62 took 97 balls. The top six batters for the West Indies all scored more than 25, but they fell apart in the last ten overs when they needed 83 to win with seven wickets remaining. But they went on to lose for 5 for 52 while trying to get close to the target.
With 4 for 66 in his nine overs, Lachmund was the main destroyer. While Naden Cooray took the crucial wicket of Carter and conceded just 38 off his ten overs, Hayden Schiller and Aryan Sharma both claimed two wickets.