USA U19 impresses with big wins against Argentina, Bahamas and Cayman Island

Match 1: USA vs Argentina: The land of Maradona is not known for its cricket and it showed when the Argentinian U19s played the USA U19 in the first match of the 2011 ICC Americas U19 Tournament.  They were comprehensively beaten in all aspects of the game.  The USA openers, Taylor and Mirza, got big scores including a maiden U19 hundred by Mizra, against what appeared to be mostly inept bowling with Ahmad completing the battering to post a 300+ score.  The Argentinians in reply were no match whatsoever having been bundled out for 30 odd.

Match 2: USA vs Bahamas:  While admittedly stronger than Argentina, Bahamas struggled to put up a half decent score and lost most of their wickets against the second-line bowlers of USA.   USA polished of the total while losing Taylor who perished attempting to polish off the total in one swing. 

Match 3: USA vs Cayman Islands.  Once USA got rid of their star batsman, Sacha De Alwis, it was never competitive as Cayman was dismissed for 40 and a helmet-less Taylor got the runs in a hurry while Babar played second fiddle.

Winning against minnows is expected but it must be said that USA has put them away with ease and helped themselves to the most favorable NRR in case rain plays spoil sport.  They play a disappointing Bermuda side on Friday and arch rivals Canada on Saturday.  A win against either of these teams should assure them of a trip to Ireland for the global qualifiers although a win against Bermuda would be preferred and more likely.

Team selection continues to confound.  Off-spinning all-rounder Pranay Suri was in the XI only to be scratched at the last minute for a pacer, ostensibly because of the "conditions."   As it turns out, the conditions favored the spinners as much as the pacers, if not more, making the scratch decision drip with bias and smell bad.   But there is plenty of deodorant to go around so everything looks good and smells good.