ST AUGUSTINE, Trinidad – Captain Nyeem Young’s maiden List A fifty rescued West Indies Academy but bad weather eventually intervened to wreck their Super50 Cup match against Barbados Pride here Monday.
West Indies Academy captain Nyeem Young hits down the ground during his maiden List A half-century on Monday. (Photo courtesy CWI Media)With the innings in the doldrums at 31 for five in the 13th over, Young arrived at the crease to lead a recovery, the right-hander blasting an unbeaten 67 from 89 balls to help lift the WI Academy to 141 for six in the 39th.
Kevin Wickham chipped in with 43 from 61 balls but more significantly, helping to mount a critical 93-run, sixth wicket partnership with Young.
With the innings headed for an interesting finish, the rains arrived to rule out any further chance of play at the Frank Worrell Memorial Ground.
Seamers Dominic Drakes (2-10) and Jair McAllister (2-15) grabbed a brace of wickets to do the early damage for Pride.
Sent in, WI Academy were in turmoil from the outset, Drakes and McAllister wiping out the top order quickly.
Kimani Melius (9) drove the first ball of the morning’s sixth over from Drakes uppishly to cover where Shamarh Brooks took a waist-high catch, and Leonardo Julien followed in the eighth without scoring, nicking a drive at Drakes to be taken behind.
With no runs added, Matthew Nandu (8) pulled a short ball from McAllister and was caught at square leg at 22 for three and Teddy Bishop also fell to the same bowler in the 11th over, pulling another short ball to short mid-wicket at 25 for four.
When Ackeem Auguste perished for three, slicing a loose full toss to cover point in the 13th, the WI Academy innings was in tatters.
However, Young counter-attacked bravely, punching two fours and four sixes while Wickham supported well, striking two fours, to put Pride on the back foot for the first time.
The partnership was frustrating the Pride bowlers when Wickham top-edged a slow sweep at off-spinner Roston Chase and was taken in the deep.
