Ashmead Ali’s dream spell of five wickets propelled West Indies to a comfortable five-wicket triumph over Tanzania in the Super Sixes stage of the Under-19 World Cup. The 17-year-old spinner’s mastery on a gripping surface earned him justified headlines.
Tanzania, appearing in their maiden U19 World Cup, won the toss and batted but were shot out for 76 in 25.3 overs. Ali’s left-arm spin bamboozled the batters, returning figures of 5/19 from his 7.3 overs. His partner-in-crime Andre Khan grabbed 3/25 as West Indies’ bowlers exploited the conditions perfectly.
No Tanzanian batter crossed 25, with opener Akhil Patel’s 20 being the top score. Their innings featured nervous prodding and poor shot selection against quality spin bowling.
West Indies’ response saw early jolts at 32/3, but Jewel Andrew’s classy 34-run knock and captain Matthew Tromp’s unbeaten 19 ensured a smooth chase. The target was overhauled in the 18th over, securing a bonus point victory.
Rain, however, had the final say in the Zimbabwe vs Scotland match. Not a single delivery was bowled before the elements intervened, resulting in a no-result. Both teams earn one point, keeping the Group 1 semifinal race wide open.
This result strengthens West Indies’ semifinal credentials while Tanzania gains valuable exposure. Ali’s performance marks him as a genuine prospect for senior cricket.