‘We’ve seen this before in cricket’

Windies U19s happy as controversial run-out seals win against Zimbabwe

WEST INDIES stormed into the quarter-final of the Under-19 World Cup with a dramatic two-run win over Zimbabwe amid controversy over a disputed run-out at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Chittagong, here yesterday.

The Caribbean side’s victory stunned a crestfallen Zimbabwe and is being overshadowed by what is known as the ‘Mankad’ controversy.

Windies pacer Keemo Paul broke the stumps and appealed for a run-out against non-striker

Richard Ngarava at the start of the final over of the innings.

Ngarava, whose bat appeared to be on the line as the bails came off, was given out after the umpires referred the situation to video review.

“Cricket is a game of glorious uncertainties,” declared the West Indies captain, Shimron Hetmyer.

“We’ve seen this in cricket before. It’s probably not in the spirit of the game, but we’re happy to have won.”

A blazing half-century from Shamar Springer and a destructive four-wicket haul from Alzarri Joseph highlighted the West Indies victory, which at one stage seemed beyond their reach.

Springer top-scored with 61 from 69 balls, smashing seven fours and two sixes as Zimbabwe, who chose to field, restricted West Indies to 226 for nine from 50 overs.

Springer and Tevin Imlach, who scored 31, compiled 45 runs for the fourth wicket to help rebuild the innings, which slipped to 97 for the loss of three wickets.

Imlach struck three fours in a patient and stubborn knock in which he also shared an opening stand of 42 with Gidron Pope, who gathered 30.

A fiery spell from pacer Alzarri Joseph, four for 30, rocked the Zimbabwe top order, reducing them to 97 for the loss of three wickets.

However, opener Shaun Snyder, with a top score of 52, and middle-order batsmen Adam Keefe chimed in with 43 as Zimbabwe appeared to be coasting to their target nicely placed at 209 for six with five overs remaining.

MAN OF THE MATCH

But when Springer returned to break a 62-run stand between Keefe and Wesley Madhevere in the 45th over, the tide turned in favour of the West Indies.

Springer, who picked up two for 16 and was named Man of the Match, trapped Keefe lbw and then bowled Madhevere for 21, while Rugare Magarira was run out for a duck to leave the last pair needing 10 more for victory.

The young Zimbabwe cricketers inched within three runs of victory, only to have their plans spoiled when Paul removed the bails.

“We got so close. No comment about it. I don’t have anything to say right now,” said the Zimbabwe captain, Brandon Mavuta. “No comment.” Although the dismissal was within the rules of the game, departures of this kind tend to revive debate about sportsmanship.

Mankadding was named after the Indian player Vinoo Mankad, who removed t he bails to claim a run-out against a non-striker in Australia in 1947.

Two years ago, Sri Lanka’s Sachithra Senanayake ran out Jos Buttler of England in similar fashion during a one-day international at Edgbaston.