West Indies Under-19s concluded their ICC Men’s Under-19 Cricket World Cup campaign on Wednesday with a hard-fought 22-run defeat to defending champions Australia at Harare Sports Club, narrowly missing out on a semi-final berth in what was a competitive and spirited tournament run.
Needing a victory to boost their semi-final chances and their net run rate, the young Caribbean side fell just short in their pursuit of Australia’s 314 for seven, finishing on 292 for nine despite half-centuries from Zachary Carter and captain Joshua Dorne.
Australia advanced unbeaten to the semi-finals while West Indies exited the tournament tied on four points with Afghanistan and Sri Lanka, but with an inferior net run rate.
While the tournament ended without the trophy, the experience gained by this young squad signifies invaluable development for West Indies cricket. The players showcased the skills, competitive spirit and resilience that are hallmarks of Caribbean cricket as they competed against the world’s best emerging talent.