Mayers sets up West Indies' series win

West Indies Under-19 secured the three-match series against Australia Under-19, after winning the deciding game by 18 runs at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

With the previous two games being won comfortably by the team batting first, West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite chose to bat in the decider, but did not follow up well, getting dismissed for a duck. When No. 4 batsman Anthony Alleyne went for a golden duck not too long after, West Indies were in trouble at 19 for 3. The lower-middle order recovered, though, carrying their side to a competitive 229 for 8 on the back of an unbeaten 98 by Kyle Mayers, and cameos from Kavem Hodge and Derone Davis. The last five wickets put on 134 runs in the final 19 overs. The Australian bowlers shared the wickets around, with Taylor Scott, Corey McMahon and Nick Stevens picking up two each.

The Australian top-order batsmen got starts in reply, but with none of the top four kicking on to make a big score after getting in and the West Indies attack turning out a disciplined bowling performance, the chase went off track. No. 7 batsman Stevens got his side close with a quickfire 33, but with no support the innings folded for 211 with nine balls going unused.

"When I went in we were in some trouble so I knew I had to bat for the team and get a good total on the board. I was not really looking at the score too much. I was looking to bat time, and I knew once I batted to the end of the innings the team would get the score we were looking for," Mayers said. "Missing out on a hundred was not a big thing to me. I was just happy to do my job and help the side build a winning total."

"Everybody in the squad is very happy with today's victory. It is a great feeling to perform this way and win for the people back home in the West Indies. A win like this in the match and in the series puts us all in a good frame of mind for the upcoming three-day match."

The teams will play a three-day match from April 24.