Canadian spinner Farhan Malik was named ICC Americas Most Valuable Player following the conclusion of play in the West Indies Cricket Board Regional Under 19 50-over championship, won by Jamaica Under-19s. Jamaica U19’s, as previously reported on Canada Cricket Online, won all six matches in the 50-over tournament, and also won the three-day championship that preceded the 50-over event in St Kitts.
Jeremy Solozano of Trinidad and Tobago topped the run scoring charts with 257, bolstered by his unbeaten innings of 139 against ICC Americas. Taryck Gabriel of the Windward Islands won the trophy for best all rounder. He produced a number of useful innings in scoring 232 runs. Success in one day cricket revolves around some players making useful contributions each game and some producing a major innings, or a quality bowling stint, or even some blinding fielding to turn a game.
ICC Americas website includes a media release that recognized Farhan Malik being named the squad’s MVP for the tournament. The game reports and news highlight how the ICC Americas side was on top against Jamaica for a significant period in the game, for example, but returns to a theme for which coach Andy Pick ran some practices on at least one non-game day for the Americas squad: batting against spin bowling. The conclusion drawn by ICC Americas is that this was a very useful tournament for the players and it hopes – almost certainly expects – that players will work on batting skills against spin bowling back with in their home countries.
Someone ought to thank ICC Americas for working to field and prepare a squad in this tournament, as well as thanking the West Indies Cricket Board for allowing the ICC Americas squad to participate. Thanks also to the local officers and volunteers in St Kitts, plus the umpires and scorers who ensured key operational aspects of the tournament were successful.
The tournament provided an opportunity for some of the Canadian players to gain more experience ahead of the 2014 ICC World Under-19 Cricket Championship, while some of the USA and Bermudian players gained experience ahead of possibly participating in November’s ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier in the UAE. (EN)
WICB Media Release – WICB Under-19 50 over Championship – Awards
Trinidad and Tobago batsman Jeremy Solozano topped the West Indies Cricket Board Regional Under 19 50 Over batting charts with 257 runs at an average of 51.40. Preston McSween of the Windward Islands was the top bowler with 16 wickets at an average of 11.13 each. The tournament concluded yesterday in St Kitts after seven rounds of 50 Over matches which followed the 3 Day tournament.
McSween’s teammate, Gian Benjamin emerged as the leading wicketkeeper with 17 catches.
Taryck Gabriel, another Windward Islander bagged the trophy for the best all rounder after scoring 232 runs (38.67 average) and taking 5 wickets are 15.4 runs per wicket.
Solozano also registered the highest score of the tournament, striking an unbeaten 139 against the ICC Americas. His knock was also the lone century of the 50 Over tournament.
Jamaica swept the Under 19 titles, winning the 50 Over trophy with a clean sweep of six victories to accumulate 37.2 points. They had previously taken the 3 Day title.
The Most Valuable Player for each team is as follows:
Barbados: Aaron Jones (116 runs @ 23.20 avg and 6 wickets @ 12.67 avg)
Guyana: Shimron Hetmyer (166 runs @ 33.20 avg)
ICC Americas: Farhan Malik (11 wickets @ 12.64 avg)
Jamaica: Tristan Colemon (224 runs @ 37.33 avg)
Leeward Islands: Tristan Hanley (118 runs @ 20.00 avg and 7 wickets @ 27.28 avg)
Trinidad & Tobago: Jeremy Solozano (257 runs @ 51.40 avg)
Windward Islands: Preston McSween (16 wickets @ 11.13 avg)