Windies reach U-19 World Cup quarters

The West Indies U19 qualified for the quarter finals of the World Cup on Tuesday in contentious circumstances, after they claimed a 2-run win over Zimbabwe, with the last wicket having been taken by the controversial dismissal of Mankading. The term Mankad has been used for this kind of dismissal since an Indian player of the same name ran out Australia’s Bill Brown during a Test match in Sydney in 1947.

West Indies captain Shimron Hetmyer said: “Cricket is a game of uncertainties”.

Zimbabwe crashed out of the competition in contentious fashion in Chittagong, when Richard Ngarava was run out by bowler Keemo Paul while backing up at the non-striker’s end to give the Windies a two-run victory.

The umpires conferred and asked the West Indies if they wanted to withdraw the appeal, which they declined to do, so the officials referred the decision to the third umpire.

As Paul approached the wicket to bowl the first ball over the over, non-striker Richard Ngarava began to slowly walk out of his crease in the quest for a quick single.

But instead of leaving cricket lovers in awe over the spectacle, which saw the West Indies claw their way back to set up a thrilling finale, it left a bitter taste as the islanders made use of one of cricket’s more controversial rules to secure their spot in the quarterfinals.

“It’s a law so it is a legal way to get a batsman out but it’s not in the spirit of the game”, Kirsten said.

Zimbabwe coach Stephen Mangongo said there was tears in the Zimbabwe dressing room. Everyone is disappointed at the loss. A run-out is a run-out.

Television replays showed Ngarava was only fractionally out of his ground and the West Indies players celebrated wildly when the out decision was shown on the big screen. I don’t think it is anything to protest about.

“If somebody is creeping too far and it is getting very tight, the bowler is within his rights to say: “Listen, if you keep going like that, I am going to ‘Mankad”.