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West Indies U19 open World Cup 2026 campaign with Tanzania win

WINDHOEK: West Indies made a confident start to their ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup 2026 campaign, registering a comprehensive victory over tournament debutants Tanzania at the High Performance Oval on Thursday.

Playing their first-ever match at the U19 World Cup, Tanzania were put in to bat and found the going tough against a disciplined West Indies bowling attack.

The African side were dismissed for 122 in 34 overs, with openers Dylan Thakrar and Darpan Jobanputra offering the only real resistance at the top.

Thakrar top-scored with 26, while Jobanputra added 19 from 46 deliveries, as just four Tanzanian batters reached double figures.

West Indies bowling attack was led by Vitel Lawes, who claimed three scalps.

Shaquan Belle and Micah McKenzie picked up two wickets each, while Jonathan van Lange and R’Jai Gittens chipped in with one apiece to keep the pressure constant.

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Chasing a modest target, the Caribbean side completed the task with little trouble, reaching 123-5 in 21 overs.

Tanez Francis anchored the run-chase with a composed half-century, scoring 52 off 55 balls, including six boundaries and a six.

Jewel Andrew played a crucial supporting role, contributing 44 from 44 deliveries with six fours and a six.

Tanzania’s bowlers showed some fight, with Raymond Francis and Augustino Mwamele taking two wickets each, while Laksh Bakrania accounted for one, but the total proved far too small to defend.

Meanwhile, the Group C fixture between hosts Zimbabwe and Scotland was abandoned without a ball being bowled in Harare due to adverse conditions, resulting in both teams sharing a point each.

READ: ICC U19 Cricket World Cup 2026: Everything You Need to Know

West Indies name squad for T20I series against Afghanistan

ANTIGUA: Cricket West Indies (CWI) has named a 16-member squad for the three-match T20I series against Afghanistan, scheduled to start in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on 19 January 2025.

The three-match series — ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 dress rehearsal will be played on 19, 21 and 22 January at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium (DICS).

“The series will serve as crucial preparation ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup scheduled to begin on February 6, with the final squad for this highly anticipated competition to be announced ahead of the three-match T20I series against South Africa set for January 27–31,” CWI wrote in a press release.

Among the inclusions are pacer Shamar Joseph, who remained out of action due to an injury sustained ahead of the India tour. Meanwhile, opener Evin Lewis also made a return from an injury layoff.

Brandon King will lead the side in the absence of regular skipper Shai Hope, who is unavailable due to his commitments in the ongoing South Africa 20 (SA20) league, alongside Roston Chase, Akeal Hosein and Sherfane Rutherford.

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The squad also includes Quentin Sampson, who has earned his maiden call-up to the international side after his outstanding performances in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2025.

Sampson is included in place of Rovman Powell, who was rested alongside Jason Holder and Romario Shepherd as part of workload management.

Following the announcement, head coach Daren Sammy termed the series as an ideal opportunity to get adapted to conditions.

“The opportunity to play competitive matches in subcontinental conditions is ideal, as it assists with our preparations and confidence building ahead of what will be a competitive T20 World Cup.”

“It also presents a valuable platform to assess players who would’ve missed significant time towards the end of 2025, as well as those stepping into important roles for this series, prior to the selection of the final squad for the international tournament,” he said.

West Indies squad

Brandon King (capt), Alick Athanaze, Keacy Carty, Johnson Charles, Matthew Forde, Justin Greaves, Shimron Hetmyer, Amir Jangoo, Shamar Joseph, Evin Lewis, Gudakesh Motie, Khary Pierre, Quentin Sampson, Jayden Seales, Ramon Simmonds, Shamar Springer.

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Duffy prompts West Indies collapse as New Zealand win series

MOUNT MAUNGANUI: New Zealand crushed West Indies by 323 runs on Monday to win the third Test and seal a 2-0 series victory, with Jacob Duffy taking a crucial five-wicket haul.

The hosts set a target of 462 and bowled out the tourists for 138, wrapping up the innings four overs after tea following a dramatic collapse either side of lunch.

Duffy finished with 5-42 and was backed up by Ajaz Patel, who claimed 3-23, while opener Brandon King top-scored for West Indies with 67.

New Zealand’s Devon Conway scored 227 and 100 in two innings, while captain Tom Latham scored 137 and 101, the first opening pair in first-class cricket history to score twin centuries in the same match, to set up the win.

The series began with a draw in Christchurch, before New Zealand won the second Test in Wellington.

Seamer Duffy and spinner Patel posed constant danger to both edges of the bat on a cracked surface that offered uneven movement and bounce.

West Indies collapsed from 87-0 to 112-8 either side of lunch after starting the day on 43-0.

King dominated early, hitting a flurry of cuts and drives and scoring 53 of his team’s first 59 runs.

New Zealand captain Latham’s field placements had lacked aggression, but that changed after the drinks break when Duffy broke the opening stand, with King gloving a rising delivery to Glenn Phillips at gully.

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Patel struck in the next over, removing John Campbell for 16 after a rash attempt to slog down the ground. Phillips took another good catch in the deep.

Patel soon claimed another, with first-innings centurion Kavem Hodge falling for a duck.

Duffy then dismissed Alick Athanaze for two and Justin Greaves for nought in successive overs, leaving the West Indies reeling.

He struck again two overs later, with Alick Athanaze edging to keeper Tom Blundell for 2, before removing Justin Greaves for nought with an edge to Daryl Mitchell at slip.

Duffy then had Roston Chase caught off the gloves by Latham at slip for five, capping a miserable series for the West Indies captain.

Chase scored just 42 runs at an average of seven in three matches, the second-worst figures for a captain dismissed six or more times in a Test series.

Patel claimed Shai Hope’s wicket for three from 78 balls after a controversial lbw review. Hope did not offer a shot, but the ball was deemed to be hitting his foot on the full and going on to hit the stumps.

Phillips then took his first wicket of the match by bowling Kemar Roach, who was nursing a hamstring strain.

Rachin Ravindra was introduced in the final session and snared Anderson Phillip’s wicket with an lbw, before Duffy wrapped up the innings by bowling Jayden Seales.

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Kane Williamson opens up on retirement plans

New Zealand batting great Kane Williamson has hinted that a decision about his future will be made on a series-by-series basis following a dominant batting display by the Black Caps against the West Indies here at the Bay Oval on Sunday in the third and final Test match of the series.

The 35-year-old Williamson is currently playing in a three-match series against West Indies and has been in decent touch.

Overall, he has amassed 9,461 Test runs to his name at a staggering average of 54.7 in 108 Test matches.

West Indies will require an uphill task on the final day of the tour, with 419 runs to win and 10 wickets in hand.

Meanwhile, it’s still unconfirmed whether ace batter Williamson will play Test cricket again, as he will be heading to South Africa for the SA T20 with his family upon the conclusion of the tour.

Speaking after the fourth day’s play, Williamson, who is inthe twilight of his career, revealed his thoughts on playing for New Zealand in the future.

“As you get to the latter stages (of your career), those thoughts certainly enter your mind,” he said.

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“It’s almost series by series,” Williamson said on playing for New Zealand nowadays.

Moving forward, the Black Caps will play their next Test match against Ireland in May 2026, which will be followed by a three-match series against England.

The 35-year-old termed the England and Australia tours challenging, noting that the challenges would be addressed as they come.

“We’ll just cross those bridges as they come.” “Going to England and Australia are really mouth-watering prospects and a great opportunities because they are tough tours,” Williamson explained.

He also turned down the upside of the game and stated that he never played for personal milestones.

“I’ve never used this team for my own personal gain,” he continued.

“I know cricket’s saturated in stats, but you’re wanting to go out and contribute to a team that you care about, so whatever runs you get aren’t really yours, they’re for the team,” Williamson concluded.

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Kavem Hodge ton sees West Indies save follow-on in New Zealand Test

MOUNT MAUNGANUI: Kavem Hodge scored his second Test century on Saturday as the West Indies reached 381-6 at the end of the third day of the third Test, 194 runs behind New Zealand and avoiding the follow-on.

The 32-year-old crawled to his century off 224 balls, hitting 12 boundaries and being dropped on 74 by Daryl Mitchell, who shelled a difficult chance at slip off Ajaz Patel.

He faced 33 balls to get through the 90s, including a long stoppage on 97 after he was hit by a painful blow in the box by a Michael Rae delivery.

Hodge shared in an 81-run partnership with Justin Greaves, which edged the visitors closer to the follow-on target of 375, and fifty stands with Tevin Imlach as well as Alick Athanaze.

Hodge was unbeaten on 109 at stumps with Anderson Phillip the other not out batsman on 12.

New Zealand received a spark from an unlikely source when Mitchell trapped Greaves lbw for 43, just his fourth Test wicket in his 35th match.

Batting suddenly looked a lot harder, as Roston Chase came and went, trapped lbw by Patel.

The West Indies said their leading batsman, Shai Hope, would not have batted on Saturday because of food poisoning, but Kemar Roach, who suffered a hamstring injury on day one, would bat if required.

Phillip came to the crease and should have been out for two when edging Patel to wicketkeeper Tom Blundell, but New Zealand did not appeal. He was then dropped on eight from Patel’s bowling by Rae at mid-on.

Jacob Duffy had 2-79 from 31 overs, while Patel took 2-94 in 33 overs to end his unwanted record of being the bowler to take the most Test wickets without a single one at home.

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Patel’s 86th Test wicket was his first in New Zealand, bowling Athanaze in the middle session, some 2,562 days since his first Test in New Zealand and with his 394th ball on home soil.

England’s Billy Bates, who took 50 wickets between 1882 and 1887, all in Australia, has regained the dubious honour in the Test history books.

New Zealand made a breakthrough straight after lunch as Imlach fell for 27, caught behind by Blundell from the bowling of Rae.

Hodge and Athanaze combined for a 61-run partnership with the latter playing a series of nice drives and flicks as he looked to find form.

Having confidently moved to 45, a moment of indecision saw Athanaze gift Patel his wicket. He attempted to leave a ball well down the legside, only for it to deflect off his inner thigh and onto the stumps.

The West Indies resumed on Saturday at 110-0 and added only one run before Duffy struck in the second over as John Campbell edged to Tom Latham at second slip without adding to his overnight 45.

It ended the first West Indies century opening stand since February 2023.

Duffy doubled up when he bowled Brandon King, who had begun the day on 55, for 63.

New Zealand declared their first innings on Friday at a mammoth 575-8, anchored by Devon Conway’s epic 227 and captain Latham’s 137.

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West Indies openers hold firm after New Zealand declare on 575-8

MOUNT MAUNGANUI: Brandon King and John Campbell comfortably negotiated 23 overs in fading light before stumps to take the West Indies to 110-0 at the end of day two of the third Test after New Zealand declared on a mammoth 575-8.

The West Indies, with King unbeaten on 55 and Campbell not out 45, are still 465 runs behind.

New Zealand opener Devon Conway’s epic 227 and some late hitting from Rachin Ravindra, who had six fours and two sixes in his 72 not out, and Ajaz Patel (30 not out) allowed captain Tom Latham to give his bowlers more than an hour at the West Indies openers.

But King and Campbell were more than up to the task, seeing off the new ball and scoring freely on a flat Bay Oval wicket as New Zealand’s bowlers struggled to find a good length.

King’s 50 came from just 62 balls, hitting nine fours, and Campbell’s 45 was made from 60 deliveries and included seven fours.

Campbell was nursing a sore right hand that was struck in the nets prior to the match.

If the injury-depleted West Indies had any other options, he may have sat out the Test, such was the swelling and pain he was experiencing.

The visitors also have doubts over whether Kemar Roach, who is nursing a hamstring strain, will bat, while leading batter Shai Hope was ill and stayed at the team hotel on Friday.

Three West Indian bowlers took two wickets each, Justin Greaves the pick with 2-83 from 29 overs, while Jayden Seales had 2-100 and Anderson Phillip 2-154.

The battered West Indian bowling corps did show some fight after lunch, led by a sharp and accurate spell from Seales.

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He trapped Conway lbw to make it 432-4, and the West Indies removed two more batsmen as New Zealand went to tea at 508-6.

Glenn Phillips lost his battle with Phillip after tea, edging to first slip, and Zak Foulkes was bowled by a peach of a ball, clipping the top of off stump.

Recalled spinner Patel lofted two sixes in the final over before the declaration in his 30 from 30 balls.

New Zealand had resumed after lunch at 424-3 at lunch, looking to punish an under-strength West Indian attack missing Roach.

The tourists did not help themselves in the field. Kavem Hodge dropped Conway when he was on 206, and Daryl Mitchell was shelled by Greaves at second slip when he was on nine.

Seales was first to strike in the afternoon, darting one past the inside edge of Conway and into the pads, a ball that would have clattered into middle and leg stumps.

Conway’s three runs after lunch saw him go past the top score of his batting idol, Neil McKenzie, who made 226 for South Africa against Bangladesh in 2008.

Mitchell fell for 11, getting a thick edge down the legside from Roston Chase, taken by wicketkeeper Tevin Imlach, who also accounted for Tom Blundell off Seales.

Earlier, Conway resumed on 178 and brought up his second Test double-century, his first since his debut in 2021 against England at Lord’s, when he cut a Seales short ball to the point boundary. His 200 came off 316 balls, with 28 fours.

Greaves then struck to remove Williamson just before lunch for 31, caught by Imlach.

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Pakistan to Tour West Indies for Test series in July 2026

Pakistan cricket team will tour the West Indies for a two-match Test series in July-August 2026, Cricket West Indies (CWI) vice-president Azim Bassarath confirmed on Wednesday.

Bassarath, who is also the president of the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB), made the announcement during the board’s executive luncheon at the National Cricket Centre in Balmain.

He revealed that the series will run from July 15 to August 7, 2026, and will form part of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) cycle.

According to Bassarath, Pakistan will play a four-day warm-up match at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy (BLCA) before the start of the Test series.

The first Test will be staged at the Queen’s Park Oval, while the second Test will be played at the BLCA.

“We will also host the Pakistan tour of the Caribbean from July 15 to August 7, 2026, comprising the four-day warm-up match at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy, the first Test match at the Queen’s Park Oval and the second Test at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy,” Bassarath said during his address.

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He also confirmed that the BLCA has now achieved full international accreditation, enabling it to host matches across all formats of the game.

The upcoming red-ball tour aligns with Pakistan’s Future Tour Programme (FTP), although the detailed match schedule is yet to be released.

Pakistan and the West Indies have shared a competitive recent Test history.

The two sides last met in a Test series in January this year, which ended in a 1-1 draw. Pakistan had also toured the Caribbean for a Test series in 2021, with that contest also finishing level.

Earlier this year, Pakistan visited the West Indies for limited-overs cricket, featuring in three ODIs and three T20Is.

READ: Pakistan squad for ICC U19 World Cup announced

Openers Conway, Latham keep New Zealand on top in third West Indies Test

MOUNT MAUNGANUI: Devon Conway and Tom Latham plundered a poor West Indies attack for a mammoth opening partnership on day one of the third Test here on Thursday as New Zealand piled up 334-1.

Conway ended the day 178 not out, and captain Latham was out just before the close for 137. Nightwatchman Jacob Duffy was on nine at Stumps.

Conway and Latham put together 323, the second-highest opening partnership for New Zealand, only bettered by Glenn Turner and Terry Jarvis’s 387 stand against the West Indies in Georgetown in 1972.

It was also only the eighth time New Zealand had registered a stand in excess of 300 in Tests.

Conway batted all day, facing 279 balls for his second century of the calendar year, but his first at home since January 2022 against Bangladesh in Christchurch. He scored 153 against Zimbabwe in August.

The 34-year-old Conway brought up his sixth Test century from 147 balls, and stroked 25 fours during his 279-ball stay.

Latham’s 15th Test century contained 15 fours and a six as he faced 264 balls.

Conway and captain Latham had a near chanceless partnership. For the first two sessions, the West Indies toiled without so much as a single lbw shout.

Early in the third session, they finally created a chance, but Latham was dropped by wicketkeeper Tevin Imlach off the bowling of Anderson Phillip when on 104 and New Zealand on 253.

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The marathon partnership justified Latham’s decision to bat first on a green-looking wicket that is tipped to suit spin later in the match.

The West Indies seamers found good movement off the grassy surface in the opening overs, bowling tight lines which had both Conway and Latham defending cautiously, but they became more aggressive once the new ball was seen off.

West Indies skipper Roston Chase said he would have bowled had he won the toss.

At a suggestion, spin would play a part later in the match, said he would “have to see it to believe it”. But after just 22 overs, Chase was on to bowl his offspin and ended up bowling 19 overs throughout the day.

Kemar Roach was the best of the bowlers, taking the lone wicket for figures of 1-63 from 17 overs.

New Zealand included spinner Ajaz Patel in their side for his first home Test in five years. Tom Blundell returned to keep wicket after missing the previous Test with injury.

The West Indies made one change, with the injured fast bowler Ojay Shields replaced by batsman Alick Athanaze.

New Zealand lead the three-match series 1-0, after a draw in the first Test in Christchurch, and a nine-wicket win in Wellington.

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West Indies announce squad for U19 World Cup 2026

Cricket West Indies (CWI) have announced a 15-member squad for the ICC Men’s U19 World Cup 2026, set to be played in Zimbabwe and Namibia.

Joshua Dorne will captain the side that also includes Jewel Andrew, who has already played three ODIs and five T20Is for the senior West Indies side.

Dorne was picked on the back of an excellent batting display during the Youth ODI series at home against Sri Lanka and England.

West Indies are added in Group D alongside South Africa, Afghanistan, and Tanzania.

Following the announcement, CWI’s High Performance Manager Dwain Gill shared his views on the squad and shared key aspects of the players.

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“In assembling this group, we have aligned their development with the style of play we expect at the senior level, ensured exposure to high-quality match opportunities, and placed a strong focus on leadership, tactical awareness and individual support within their territories,” Dwain Gill, CWI’s High Performance Manager, said.

“The result is a balanced and competitive squad, well-positioned to perform at the Under-19 World Cup and contribute meaningfully to the long-term future of West Indies cricket,” he added.

“The result is a balanced and competitive squad, well positioned to perform at the Under-19 World Cup and contribute meaningfully to the long-term future of West Indies cricket.”

For the unversed, the junior-level 16th edition of the event will be held from 15 January to 6 February 2026. The tournament will continue with its familiar format: 16 teams, four groups, 41 matches, and a Super Six stage leading into semi-finals and a final.

The sides will begin arriving on 8 January for warm-ups scheduled from 9–14 January.

West Indies squad for Men’s Under-19 World Cup 2026

Joshua Dorne (capt), Jewel Andrew, Shamar Apple, Shaquan Belle, Zachary Carter, Tanez Francis, R’jai Gittens, Vitel Lawes, Micah McKenzie, Matthew Miller, Israel Morton, Jakeem Pollard, Aiden Racha, Kunal Tilokani, Jonathan Van Lange (vice-capt)

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Duffy takes five as New Zealand thrash West Indies in second Test

WELLINGTON: Jacob Duffy took 5-38 as New Zealand cruised to a nine-wicket victory over the West Indies in the second Test in Wellington on Friday for a 1-0 series lead.

Seamer Duffy bagged his second five-wicket haul in only his third Test to help roll the West Indies for 128 after lunch on day three, the hosts needing just 56 for victory.

Devon Conway (28) and Kane Williamson (16) guided New Zealand to an emphatic win just before tea at the Basin Reserve.

Debutant Michael Rae took 3-45 for the home side while Kavem Hodge was the pick of the West Indian batters in their second innings, scoring 35.

New Zealand lead the three-Test series 1-0, after the first match in Christchurch ended in a draw.

New Zealand skipper Tom Latham was delighted with how his inexperienced bowling unit took the fight to the visitors.

Like Duffy, Zak Foulkes was playing just his third Test match, Blair Tickner his fourth and Rae was on debut.

It was a limp batting effort from the West Indies, who resumed day three at 32-2, trailing by 41 runs having lost John Campbell and nightwatchman Anderson Phillip late on day two.

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By lunch, they were on the ropes at 98-6 and needing a significant fightback, like they did in the first Test, to have any chance.

It took just 9.2 overs for New Zealand to clean up the tail, the collapse starting when Justin Greaves fell for 25 to an lbw off Duffy that was reviewed by New Zealand and would have clipped the top of the leg stump.

On day one, the tourists were dismissed for 205, before New Zealand made 278-9 declared in reply.

Brandon King and Hodge started brightly on Friday, negating a pitch that was offering variable bounce to the New Zealand bowlers.

King was the first to depart, for 22, after a dreadful mix-up running between the wickets, run out by Michael Bracewell.

That sparked a mini-collapse as first Shai Hope and then Chase were removed by Rae and Duffy, respectively.

Hodge patiently moved to 35 as wickets fell at the other end, but he departed after Will Young took a stunning diving catch from a pull shot at midwicket.

The third and final Test is in Mount Maunganui starting on Thursday.

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