Windhoek, Jan 26 (.) Things are getting increasingly real at the ICC Under-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup.
Just ask a West Indies side that essentially skipped celebrations to begin locking in on Australia, their next opponents, in what’s a challenge their relishing, according to ICC.
It comes after they impressed in Namibia on the way to a 25-run win over Ireland in a clash impacted by the implementation of the DLS method.
Fresh after their Super Six win, bolwer Vitel Lawes confirmed his side are immediately setting their sights on the undefeated defending champions.
“We should play it like it’s a final,” Lawes said.
“Play it like it’s the last game we’re ever going to play, so we should go all out.
“I personally have a big role to play in that game, so I definitely have to go train, put in that work
to come and execute.”
Lawes was impressive against Ireland, taking 2/41 off 10 overs to help deny Ireland a chance of staging a successful run chase. Earlier, coming in at 11, he smashed 18* off 10 balls in a 20-run partnership for the 10th wicket; a cameo that would go on to prove pivotal.
Lawes was well supported by Micah McKenzie, who earned Player of the Match honours with his 4/36 off 10 overs.
The pair found rhythm as a tandem against the Irish, which is no fluke.
“When each of us are bowling, I’m always at short mid-off, or he’s always at short mid-off, so we talk to each other, remind each other about things we worked on in training, we have key words
that we say to each other, to keep each other on track,” Lawes said.
“So whenever I’m done (with) an over, he’s always there to cheer me on, to keep me going.”
Lawes also opened up on the areas both him and the team need to tighten up before their clash with Australia on Wednesday in Harare.
“I’m happy with what I’m doing currently, but there’s a lot of work that needs to be done,” he continued.
“I’m happy with how things are going, but I’ll still keep working on it.
“With the bat, we had a collapse in the middle. I think that’s something we need to work on going forward in the next game. We’re playing the defending champions, we can’t go into a match like that with (those issues).
“(And) some of the guys are just sleeping in the field at times, that’s something that we should work on is to stay in the game a bit more. Sometimes things like that can break a bowler’s confidence. So it’s something that we should work on moving forward as well.
“(But) we’re always happy with a win.”
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