Lawes looking to play key role

West Indies under-19 spinner Vitel Lawes has emerged as a pivotal figure in his team's charge at the International Cricket Council Men's U19 World Cup, and the Jamaican teenager is relishing the challenge as a crucial showdown with Australia looms.

Currently tied among the tournament's leading wicket-takers with nine scalps, just two behind Afghanistan's Nooristan Omarzai, Lawes is balancing personal satisfaction with a relentless drive for improvement.

"I'm obviously happy with what I'm doing currently," Lawes told reporters. "But I think there's a lot of work that needs to be done, and I'll still keep working on it."

His steady contributions have been instrumental in placing the Windies in a strong position to qualify for the semi-finals.

The Caribbean side sits on four points in a tight Group 1, level with Sri Lanka and Afghanistan, but faces its toughest test yet on Wednesday. A clash against the undefeated defending champions and table-toppers, Australia.

Lawes is under no illusions about the magnitude of the encounter and is preparing to shoulder significant responsibility.

"The team should play it like a final. We need to play like it's the last game we're ever gonna play, so we should go all out. I personally have a big role to play in that game, so I definitely have to go to training, put in that work to come and execute on the day."

The match represents more than just a pathway to the knockout stages; it is an opportunity for Lawes and his teammates to make a definitive statement against the tournament favourites.