Tony Becca
THE UNDER-19 World Cup tournament is over and congratulations to Pakistan who retained the title after stepping out of the grave.
After losing to Bangladesh and finishing second in the group stage, Pakistan were shot down for 109 in the final before, after picking up a wicket with the first delivery of the innings, they rallied to dismiss India for 71 in 18.5 overs.
In what was a truly magnificent performance, Pakistan had India, the favourites at the start of the match and the overwhelming favourites halfway through it, reeling at nine for six in 3.2 overs and at 23 for seven in the eighth over before they stormed to victory.
CONGRATULATIONS
As well as Pakistan played, however, congratulations must also go to Bangladesh who not only defeated Pakistan, but in winning the group, in finishing that stage with a perfect three from three, defeated, not so much Uganda, but also New Zealand.
On top of that, in a tournament of some surprising results, a tournament during which Zimbabwe defeated England and Nepal, to their credit, defeated South Africa and New Zealand, Bangladesh, representing the team in last position in the Test rankings, also knocked off Sri Lanka and the West Indies - one by 98 runs and one by six wickets.
In other words, in a tournament during which some 'Davids' were too good for some 'Goliaths', a tournament which must have brought smiles of satisfaction to the faces of those members of the International Cricket Council responsible for the development of the game around the world, Bangladesh, by their deeds, were one of the best teams on parade.
Not so, however, the West Indies.
Finalists last time around and one of the favourites this time around - certainly according to West Indians who knew little about the other teams, the West Indies performed way below Bangladesh who finished in fifth place.
WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT
In fact, based on their performance, despite the words of encouragement by coach Roderick Estwick who said after they were knocked out that the West Indies were as good as any other team, the West Indies were probably not even as good as Nepal who won the Plate final.
While Bangladesh won five of their six matches, the West Indies, beaten by 13 runs by Australia, beaten by 126 runs by India, and beaten by six wickets by Bangladesh, won only two of their five matches - one against the lowly United States of America (USA) and one against South Africa whose only success was against the USA.
In one of the disappointing performances of the tour-nament, the young West Indies, playing like the West Indies, bowled 25 wides in Australia's innings, and chasing 252 for victory, they were 192 for three in the 35th over before, with 60 runs needed for victory, with over 15 overs to be bowled, and with seven wickets in hand, they lost six wickets for 25 runs in 55 deliveries.
It was unlike Nepal who, chasing 205 for victory in the Plate final against New Zealand, rose to the occasion and won with one wicket to spare after they were reeling at 75 for six in the 27th over, and unlike Pakistan who appeared dead and buried in the final, and snatched defeat out of the jaws of victory.
