Under-19 series: India trounce West Indies

Kumar Deobrat Singh hit a breezy half-century to help India register a comprehensive 81-run victory over the West Indies in the Under-19 quadrangular one-day cricket series in Visakhapatnam on Friday.

Deobrat scored 75 off 91 balls, inclusive of four boundaries and two sixes, as India posted a challenging 249 for 7 in their 50 overs after being sent in to bat by the West Indies' skipper Kraigg Brathwaite.

In reply, the West Indies lost wickets at regular intervals and eventually folded for 168 in 40.5 overs.

Baba Aparajith was the pick of India's bowlers, taking three wickets for 36, while Sandeep Sharma, Kamal Passi and Vikas Mishra scalped two wickets each.

For the West Indies, Justin Greaves and Kyle Mayers accounted for two wickets each, while Amir Khan and Derone Davis snapped one each.

Earlier, A Herwadkar (22) and skipper U Chand (28) opened the innings for India and put up 53 runs in 13.5 before the former lost his wicket to Mayers. Chand too was sent back to the dressing room soon by Khan.

But M Vohra (44) and Deobrat joined hands to put up a crucial 91-run stand. Vohra though was sent packing by Davis.

Then Deobrat, in the able company of Aparajith (34), hit 61 runs from 8.4 overs to take the team past 200-run mark.

Even after he got out, India scored 36 off the last 32 balls to finish with 249.

Chasing 250 for victory, the West Indies had a disastrous start, as they lost skipper Brathwaite (0) to the third ball of the very first over.

Opener J Campbell (27) was then removed by Passi in the eighth over.

A Alleyne (31) and KR Mayers (30), however, stitched 49 runs before Mishra had the former trapped in front of the wicket.

Aparajith then dismissed Mayers, while Passi came back to get rid off SW Ambris (17) as the West Indies lost half their side for 121 in 29.2 overs.

Greaves (9), Stephen Katwaroo (6), Davis (1) and Khan (11) were all dismissed cheaply. And once Hodge (31) was also back in the hut, it was all over for the Caribbean side.

Table toppers India will take on Sri Lanka in the final of the tournament on Sunday.