Leeward Islands Cricket Team Defeats USA Under-19 Team in Tournament

The Leeward Islands Under-19 cricket team triumphed over USA 2 by a comfortable margin of 66 runs at ET Willet Park on Thursday, July 24, 2025. This victory served as a consolation for the Leewards, providing a positive end to their campaign. The match showcased a compelling display of cricketing talent from both sides, highlighting the future prospects of the game in the respective regions. The Leewards’ victory was built on a solid batting performance followed by a dominant bowling display, particularly by Israel Morton.

The Leeward Islands elected to bat first, setting a challenging target of 211 runs before being bowled out. Their innings was anchored by a strong performance from Zavio Henry, who top-scored with a well-crafted 64. Henry’s innings exhibited a blend of controlled aggression and sensible batting, demonstrating his ability to build an innings. His contribution laid a solid foundation for the Leewards’ total. Further impetus was provided by Israel Morton’s quickfire 47, which injected much-needed momentum into the innings. Morton’s aggressive approach put the USA bowlers under pressure and helped the Leewards accelerate the scoring rate. Despite these strong individual performances, the Leewards lost wickets at regular intervals, highlighting a vulnerability in their batting line-up.

For the USA 2 bowling attack, Patel and Appidi shared the spoils, each claiming three wickets. Their disciplined bowling and ability to generate breakthroughs kept the Leewards’ batsmen in check, preventing them from posting an even more formidable total. Despite the consistent fall of wickets, the Leewards managed to cross the 200-run mark, setting a challenging target for the USA 2 batsmen.

Chasing a target of 212, the USA 2 innings faltered, eventually being bowled out for 145. While Basu provided some resistance with a valuable 40, the USA 2 batsmen struggled against the disciplined and penetrative bowling of the Leewards. The lack of substantial partnerships and the regular loss of wickets hampered their chase, preventing them from mounting a serious challenge to the target. The USA 2 innings highlighted the need for greater consistency and partnerships within their batting order to effectively chase down challenging totals.

The standout performer of the match, undoubtedly, was Israel Morton. After his crucial contribution with the bat, he returned to wreak havoc with the ball, claiming an impressive five wickets for just 40 runs. His five-wicket haul proved decisive, effectively dismantling the USA 2 batting line-up and paving the way for a comfortable victory for the Leeward Islands. Morton’s all-round performance showcased his versatility and value to the team, highlighting his potential as a promising young cricketer. His ability to contribute significantly with both bat and ball makes him a valuable asset for the Leewards.

In conclusion, the Leeward Islands Under-19 team displayed a strong all-round performance to secure a convincing 66-run victory over USA 2. The match underscored the importance of individual brilliance, exemplified by Zavio Henry’s crucial 64 and Israel Morton’s outstanding all-round performance. While the USA 2 team showcased glimpses of potential, particularly with Basu’s contribution and the bowling efforts of Patel and Appidi, they ultimately succumbed to the superior performance of the Leeward Islands. The match served as a valuable learning experience for both teams, further enhancing their development and providing valuable insights into areas for future improvement. The victory provided the Leewards with a positive outcome, and their performance suggests promising prospects for their future cricketing endeavors.