Richardson ensures under-19s finish on high
Dalin Richardson produced a superb man-of-the-match display to guide Bermuda to a 151-run win over Argentina in their final match at the ICC Under-19 World Cup Americas Region Qualifier in Toronto today.
The captain led by example, stroking a top score of 53 as Bermuda posted 201 for nine after being sent in to bat.
He then capped his all-round display by claiming three for 11 from ten overs with his seam bowling as Argentina succumbed to 50 all out in 26 overs.
It was Bermuda’s second straight win having beaten Cayman Islands by seven wickets the previous day.
Richardson’s 86-ball innings included three fours and along with Tai Cariah (18) he added 69 runs in a third-wicket partnership that ultimately put the match beyond Argentina’s reach.
Ori Wilson chipped in with a brisk and unbeaten 30 from 36 balls, hitting two fours, while wicketkeeper Jarryd Richardson (13) was the remaining Bermuda batsman in double figures.
Axel Horwitz, Felipe Jimenez and Alan Kirschbaum claimed two wickets each for an Argentina team that conceded 54 extras, including 49 wides.
Set a target of 202, Argentina batted a man short as wicketkeeper Santiago Iturbe was absent through injury.
Once seam bowler Nirobi Smith-Mills trapped opener Jimenez leg before to make the initial breakthrough, wickets fell at regular intervals throughout the remainder of the innings as Bermuda gradually tightened the screws.
None of Argentina’s batsmen managed to reach double figures, with Bermuda using only four bowlers to get the job done.
Smith-Mills was also in deadly form with the ball, claiming three for 26 from ten overs with two maidens, while Wilson claimed an equally impressive two for eight from three overs.
Bermuda’s hopes of advancing to next year’s ICC Under-19 World Cup were dashed after suffering back-to-back nine-wicket defeats against Canada and the United States in their opening two-round robin matches.
Canada thrashed Cayman Islands by 391 runs in yesterday’s other match at the Maple Leaf Cricket Club in King City.
The host nation piled up 441 for five after being sent in and then took 25.5 overs to dismiss the Caymans for 50.
Canada and the US, who are both unbeaten to date, will face off today in their final qualifying match to determine which country advances to the ICC Under-19 World Cup in South Africa next January and February.