PALMERSTON NORTH, New Zealand CMC – A pulsating, fifth-wicket century stand between prolific opener Kraigg Brathwaite and wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich hauled West Indies from the brink of disaster and catapulted them to a crucial five-wicket win over Papua New Guinea in their final preliminary match of the ICC Under-19 World Cup yesterday.

Set a modest target after they dismissed Papua New Guinea for 187 off their 50 overs at Fitzherbert Park, West Indies stumbled to 43 for four in the 10th over before rebounding to reach 188 for five off 35.4 overs, and put themselves within sight of qualification for the second round with their second successive win.

With their run chase coming apart at the seams, Brathwaite fashioned an uncharacteristically up-tempo 82 from 79 balls while Dowrich carved out a near run-a-ball 84 from 85 balls, as the Barbadian pair featured in an entertaining stand of 118 off 119 balls.

Usually dogged and unhurried, Brathwaite betrayed his natural instincts to stroke eight fours off 79 balls while Dowrich followed suit, striking nine fours and a six off 85 balls.

Earlier, leg-spinner Yannic Cariah snatched four for 37 to destroy Papua New Guinea’s middle order, reducing them from a solid position of 68 for one after they had been sent in.

He quickly claimed all four wickets which fell as Papua New Guinea plunged to 84 for five in the 31st over in the space of just 49 deliveries. A recovery was engineered by Sese Bau who counter-attacked for his even 50 from 55 balls, and Jason Kila who made 30 from 40 balls.

West Indies then made a messy start to what should have been an uncomplicated run chase, as fast bowler Raymond Haoda (3-37) knocked over the first three wickets to fall to haul Papua New Guinea back into the Group D contest.

Attacking opener Trevon Griffith spent seven balls over his two before falling in the third over with the score on 13 and Evin Lewis (1) and John Campbell (6) then fell in the space of nine balls to leave the Windies on 38 for three in the ninth over.

When medium pacer John Reva snared Cariah in the next over with just five runs added, West Indies were facing a long road back.

Brathwaite, who hit an unbeaten 92 in the Windies’ opening loss to Pakistan last Friday, then took responsibility for the innings, tempering his usual measured approach with a dashing flair to inspire his side’s resurgence.

Dowrich, who has been in good form in the tournament, followed his natural attacking tendencies, striking the ball nicely as he kept the scoreboard ticking over.

Brathwaite was in sight of three figures when he fell to left-arm spinner Kila at 161 for five with just 27 runs left for victory but Dowrich, partnered by stand-in captain Yannick Ottley (5 not out), then ensured West Indies got home safely.

Papua New Guinea had earlier looked like posting a bigger total after the Siaka brothers, Heni (28) and Lega (21), shared 51 for the first wicket.

After Cariah sliced through the middle order, Papua New Guinea were boosted by two key partnerships. Bau, who hit five fours and a six, added 38 for the sixth wicket with Kila before putting on another 57 for the seventh wicket with John Reva who stroked a run-a-ball 21.

Once Riva was out at 179 for seven to the first ball of the 49th over, the end came swiftly as the last four wickets fell for eight runs in the space of 12 balls.
PAPUA NEW GUINEA Under-19s
H. Siaka lbw b Dewar 28 
L. Siaka c Griffith b Cariah 21 
V. Oala c Brathwaite b Cariah 12
T. Ura c Brathwaite b Cariah 3 
C. Amini c wkp. Dowrich b Cariah 7 
S. Bau c Holder b Ottley 50  
J. Kila c Cariah b Holder 30
J. Reva c Griffith b Ottley 21
S. Eno b Blackwood 1
R. Haoda run-out (Holder) 1
T. Mou not out 1
Extras: (lb-5, w-5, nb-2) 12     
Total: (all out, 50 overs) 187
Fall of wickets: 1-51, 2-68, 3-68, 4-77, 5-84, 6-122, 7-179, 8-185, 9-185. 
Bowling: Holder 9-0-30-1 (w-1) , Joseph 7-0-47-0 (nb-1), Dewar 10-1-15-1 (w-1),  Blackwood 10-0-39-1 (nb-1), Y Cariah 10-1-37-4 , Ottley 4-0-14-2.

WEST INDIES UNDER-19s
K. Brathwaite c Oala b Kila 82
T. Griffith c Bau b Haoda 2
E. Lewis b Haoda 1
J. Campbell c Eno b Haoda 6
Y. Cariah  c Eno b Reva 1
S. Dowrich not out 84
Y. Ottley not out 5
Extras: (w-6, nb-1) 7     
Total: (5 wkts, 35.4 overs) 188
Fall of wickets: 1-13, 2-32, 3-38, 4-43, 5-161.
Bowling: Haoda 10-0-37-3 (w-1), Mou 4-0-24-0 (w-3, nb-1), Reva 7-1-34-1 (w-1),  Kila 7.4-0-41-1, Bau 1-0-8-0, Amini 4-0-31-0, Ura 2-0-13-0.
Points: West Indies 2, Papua New Guinea 0.