WINDHOEK, Namibia (CMC) — West Indies Under-19s commenced their bid for a second ICC Men’s Under-19 World Cup title by defeating minnows Tanzania by five wickets on Thursday.

Tanzania, playing in their first-ever Under-19 World Cup, started brightly but eventually collapsed to be all out for 122 in 34 overs after being sent in at the High Performance Oval.

West Indies were cruising at 100 for one at on stage but lost four wickets in the space of three overs before eventually reaching 124 for five in 21 overs.

The win propeled the regional team to the top of Group D, which also comprises Afghanistan and South Africa.

Tanzania actually started the better of the two teams, before being undone by the lively Shaquan Belle, who was directly involved in their first four wickets to fall.

The opening pair of Dylan Thakrar and Darpan Jobanputra gave them a solid start during a 53-run stand in just under 14 overs, which put them in the ascendancy after the first hour of play.

However, their innings unraveled once Jonathan van Lange had the latter caught at fine leg by a diving Belle for 19 off 46 balls.

Four runs later, Belle was once again involved in the thick of things — this time with ball in hand — accounting for the wicket of Thakrar for the topscore of 26 off 38 balls.

Some sharp fielding again by Belle resulted in Ayaan Shariff being run out for one, and he returned to dismiss Augustino Mwamele for five in a lively spell that reduced Tanzania to 67 for four.

And when captain Laksh Bakrania, Abdulazak Mohamedi and Simba Mbaki Mohamedi fell in quick succession, Tanzania had slumped to 86 for seven.

It took the efforts of Khalidy Juma, who scored 12 and Acrey Hugo (10), to get them past three figures before left-arm spinner Vitel Lawes wrapped up the tail.

Lawes ended with 3-23, while Micah McKenzie (2-15) and Belle (2-23) provided solid support.

The Windies began their chase in positive fashion, with Zachary Carter launching Juma over mid on for a huge six to end the third over.

But his stay at the crease was brief, with Mwamele rattling his stumps with his medium pace in the next over to leave the score 20 for one.

Tanez Francis and Jewel Andrew then set about dismantling Tanzania’s bowling attack during an 80-run stand for the second wicket that all but decided the contest.

Both batters looked set to reach their half centuries and carry their side to a comprehensive victory, until against the run of play Bakrania had Andrew caught and bowled for a well-played run-a-ball 44, which contained six fours and one six.

Francis brought up his half century with a boundary off Mwamele, but the bowler got his revenge two balls later, trapping the opener lbw for 52 off 55 balls. His knock contained five fours and one six.

Captain Joshua Dorne (5) and van Lange (0) then found themselves back in the pavilion soon after, as the West Indies slipped to 114 for five.

Shamar Apple and Belle then joined forces to ensure there would be no further losses, with the former ending the match by hitting Juma for four.

Mwamele was Tanzania’s best bowler with 2-17, while Raymond Francis took 2-23.

The West Indies are set to next face Afghanistan on Sunday.