West Indies Opt to Bowl in U19 World Cup Opener Against Tanzania
West Indies captain Joshua Dorne won the toss and decided to field first against Tanzania in their opening match of the ICC Under-19 World Cup 2026. The match is currently underway at the High Performance Oval in Windhoek, Namibia.
Toss Decision Sets the Tone
Dorne's choice to bowl first gives West Indies an early advantage in the game. The decision came after the toss at the start of the match on January 15, 2026. Both teams are now playing their first game of the tournament.
Playing Elevens for Both Sides
West Indies U19 Playing XI:
- Tanez Francis
- Zachary Carter
- Jewel Andrew (wicketkeeper)
- Joshua Dorne (captain)
- Shamar Apple
- Jonathan van Lange
- Shaquan Belle
- Aadian Racha
- Micah McKenzie
- RJai Gittens
- Vitel Lawes
Tanzania U19 Playing XI:
- Dylan Thakrar
- Darpan Jobanputra
- Ayaan Ashik Shariff
- Agustino Meya Mwamele
- Laksh Bakrania (captain)
- Simba Mbaki
- Abdulazak Mohamedi
- Acrey Pascal Hugo (wicketkeeper)
- Ally Hafidhi
- Khalidy Juma
- Raymond Francis
Early Match Action
The game started with RJai Gittens opening the bowling attack for West Indies. Dylan Thakrar and Darpan Jobanputra opened the batting for Tanzania. After the first over, Tanzania scored 4 runs without losing any wickets.
Thakrar faced most of the deliveries in the initial over. He scored 2 runs from 7 balls. The over included a wide and a no ball from Gittens. Tanzania's batters showed caution in the opening exchanges.
Tournament Context
This match marks the beginning of both teams' campaigns in the ICC Under-19 World Cup 2026. The tournament features young cricketing talents from around the world. West Indies enter as one of the stronger teams, while Tanzania aims to make an impact.
The High Performance Oval in Windhoek provides a neutral venue for this encounter. Fans are following the live score updates closely as the match progresses.
