OPENING batsman Gidron Pope, yesterday, mesmerized the ICC Americas lineup with his off spin to claim 3 for 25 before returning with the bat to hit a whirlwind half century, which piloted Windward Islands to a four wickets victory in their West Indies Cricket Board Under-19 limited overs contest that was played at the Wales Community Centre ground.

Winning the toss and opting to bowl first, Windward Islands blew away ICC Americas for 130 off 36.4 overs, after they were 56 for 1 in the 14th over, with Extras 22, Aniket Joshi 20 and Vibhav Altekar 18 leading the way with the bat.
Ryan John (3 for 24) and Deron Hypolite (2 for 16) supported Pope, who returned to smash six sixes and three fours in his 33 balls 55, which together with an unbeaten 30 from Kersakie Jno-Lewis, piloted the eventual victors to 132 for 6 from 24.2 overs, after they stuttered from 73 for 1 to 93 for 6.
Early in the day, the ICC Americas, who are yet to win a match in this year’s tournament, lost Arsh Buch (07) before Joshi and Altekar added 38 for the second wicket, at which point Pope accounted for Joshi and Nikhil Dutta (00) off successive deliveries, after debutant fast bowler Obed McCoy had removed Altekar.
From that position, the ICC Americas never recovered as the Windward Islands spin/pace attack that comprised Pope, Edward, Hypolite and John, ensured their team’s option to bowl first did not go in vain, dismissing their opponents from 36.4 overs.
Asked to bat 13 overs before the luncheon interval, the Windwards who face Trinidad and Tobago at Enmore today, galloped to 77 for 2 at the interval, losing Markeron Gordon (01) and Pope, whose half century took him 30 deliveries to aggregate and was decorated with six sixes and two fours.
In fact, he struck Farhan Malik ( 1 for 30) for his sixth maximum to reach the half century and celebrated with an authoritative drive for four off the next delivery, before he was bowled attempting a slog sweep off the final delivery of the over.
After the break, Jno-Lewis, who was yet to score prior to same, struck Joshi for two fours, before disaster struck for the Windwards who lost Shaman Hooper (08), Roland Cato (00), Anson Latchman (00) and John (01) to be 93 for 6.
But Jno-Lewis and Edward whose unbeaten 18 was decorated with two fours and a six, steered their side to 132 for 6, with Edward culminating the contest with a four that was gloriously driven over the lightning fast outfield and through extra cover off Malik.

(By Calvin Roberts)