Cricket news round-up – January 10: West Indies win cliffhanger, India Under-19 win Quadrangular

West Indies beat Ireland by 1 wicket to clinch the ODI series; India Under-19 won the Quadrangular Tournament in South Africa, while Zimbabwe edged past New Zealand to finish third; and Matt Renshaw’s role in a catch in the BBL caused a ruckus.

West Indies take unassailable lead

West Indies beat Ireland by 1 wicket with 1 ball to spare in the second ODI, at Kensington Oval, Bridgetown. They have now taken a 2-0 lead in the series with a match to spare.

Opting to bat, Ireland put up 237/9 thanks to Paul Stirling’s 63 at the top and cameos from William Porterfield, Kevin O’Brien, and Simi Singh. Continuing with his form from the first ODI, Alzarri Joseph (4/31) and Sheldon Cottrell (3/51).

Their fast bowlers then reduced West Indies to 24/3 before Nicholas Pooran (52 in 44 balls) and Kieron Pollard (40 in 32) turned things around with a counterattack. Even then, they looked in dire straits at 148/7 after Simi Singh (3/48) struck, but Hayden Walsh Jr saw them home with a 67-ball 46 not out.

India Under-19s win Quadrangular

India turned things around at Kingsmead, Durban to beat South Africa by 69 runs and win the Quadrangular Under-19s Trophy. After Gerald Coetzee (3/19) reduced India to 13/3, Tilak Varma (70) and Dhruv Jurel (101) added 164 runs for the fourth wicket before Siddhesh Veer (48* in 37) propelled them to 259/7.

Jonathan Bird (39 in 31) then led the charge for South Africa, but barring Jack Lees (52), nobody else put up any resistance as Atharva Ankolekar (4/31) ran through.

Zimbabwe Under-19s finish third

Zimbabwe beat New Zealand by 2 wickets with 3 balls to spare at Chatsworth Stadium, Durban to finish third in the same tournament. While India won all 3 matches, the other three teams won 1 apiece; Zimbabwe (-0.4) finished ahead of New Zealand (-1.157) but behind South Africa (-0.287).

Milton Shumba (4/23) and Wesley Madhevere (3/45) first bowled out New Zealand for 198, Jesse Tashkoff top-scoring with 39. Emannuel Bawa (41) and Shumba (50) then took Zimbabwe to 86/1 before they collapsed to 152/7. They needed 10 in 10 when the eighth wicket fell, but Luke Oldknow saw them through.

Renshaw assist leaves cricket fraternity divided

Matt Renshaw of Brisbane Heat assisted in spectacular fashion to help complete a spectacular catch to dismiss Matthew Wade of Hobart Hurricanes.

Renshaw caught the ball above his head at long-on, lost his balance, threw the ball up in the air, went over the ropes, found the ball in the air outside the ropes, and hopped to hit the ball back into the arena, where Tom Banton completed the catch.

The umpires eventually had to refer to the laws to check on the legality as everyone waited. The decision was ruled in favour of Brisbane due to a technicality, one for which laws 19.4.2, 19.5.1, 33.2.1, and 32.2.2.4 had to be referred to.

The cricket fraternity was divided on the issue, with both sides finding support.