Gomes: We'll fight to stay in U-19 World Cup race

Tue, Feb 19, '08

West Indies coach Larry Gomes has declared that his team will fight to stay in the championship race at the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup following their opening match loss.

"For the next two games they will give 110 per cent to try to advance in the tournament," Gomes said on Tuesday, according to a CMC Sports report.

South Africa beat West Indies by three wickets in their Group B fixture at the Kinrara Academy Oval on Monday and the Caribbean side will now need to win in their remaining matches handsomely to get into the quarter-finals.

West Indies play their remaining first-round games on Wednesday (Tuesday night Caribbean time) and Friday (Thursday night Caribbean time) against Papua New Guinea and India, respectively.

Against South Africa on Monday, West Indies had compiled 222 for eight off their 50 overs after electing to bat, and the Africans replied with 223 for seven off 43.5 overs. The exciting left-handed opener Kieron Powell (53) and Adrian Barath (19) linked up for a steady 65-run first-wicket partnership but the middle-order collapsed and the innings was only revived by a 78-run seventh-wicket stand between Devon Thomas (53) and Shacaya Thomas (40).

India beat South Africa on Tuesday to lead the standings with four points, followed by South Africa (2), with West Indies and Papua New Guinea yet to get off the mark.

Gomes, 54, is disappointed with the result and believes they could have posted a more challenging total with better application.

"We got off to a flyer but then we had some soft dismissals, the batsmen need to concentrate harder," Gomes said.

"We were getting starts but not consolidating," he added.

The former Trinidad and Tobago and West Indies batsman, who played 60 Tests and 83 One Day International (ODI) matches in an international career that spanned 11 years from 1976 to 1987, is impressed with the talent in the squad.

He is encouraged by the players' attitude and scope for learning and he believes regional authorities should invest in the young squad to help secure a better future for West Indies cricket.

"More emphasis should be placed on the Under-19s, the guys should be kept together. These guys are a disciplined bunch and easy to get along with," Gomes said.