Cricket: Impressive bowling earns NZ easy victory

New Zealand under-19 fast bowler Logan van Beek. Photo / Getty Images

New Zealand emerged comfortable victors in their final under-19 World Cup cricket pool match yesterday, easily downing Sri Lanka by seven wickets in Christchurch.

The win gave them first place in Group C as the competition heads into its knockout phase.

The win came thanks largely to an impressive bowling effort from fast bowler Logan van Beek and offspinner Tim Johnston, who grabbed three wickets each after New Zealand won the toss.

Sri Lanka's failure to measure up to the bowling was underlined by the fact that just three batsmen managed to reach double figures.

Rumesh Buddika contributed 39 and Kithuruwan Vithanage chipped in with 35 to lend some stability to the innings after a poor start.

Their dismissals triggered another collapse but a fighting 69 from Dhanushka Gunathilleke, who struck six fours and two sixes in his counterattack and added 59 for the last wicket, pushed the score up to 195 all out with five balls remaining.

The effort proved woefully inadequate, New Zealand's batsmen chasing down the target with ease.

Opener Harry Boam struck a patient 85 off 169 balls, and was aided with some aggression at the other end from Jimmy Neesham (47), who ensured the scoring rate didn't dip.

New Zealand notched up their win in the 44th over, despite the early loss of Tom Latham after two overs with the score on 10.

The remaining two games played yesterday proved much closer, both South Africa and Pakistan battling to the last over to pick up narrow wins over Australia and Bangladesh respectively.

Australia looked on target after winning the toss and electing to bat.

They reached 276 for seven in their allotted 50 overs, aided in no small part by Jason Floros' 96 off 123 balls.

For South Africa, medium pacer Graham Hume was the most effective bowler, picking up 3-35 from his 10 overs.

South Africa chased down the imposing target with just two balls to spare, opener Dominic Hendricks showing the way with a man-of-the-match 94.

Pakistan had an even closer match against Bangladesh, eventually recording a four-wicket win with just one ball to spare.

Bangladesh reached 250 for five in their 50 overs, a solid batting performance headed by knocks of 55 from opener Anamul Haque and 63 from captain Mahmudul Hasan.

Pakistan started well with a 104-run opening partnership between Ahmed Shehzad and Babar Azam, who went on to make 91 before falling in the 42nd over.

But the chase got tight when three wickets fell in nine balls for nine runs, leaving Pakistan struggling at 182 for five after 43 overs.

It took a whirlwind 34 off 14 balls from Mohammad Waqas to secure the win on the penultimate ball of the match.

England, New Zealand, South Africa and Pakistan lead their respective pools.

- NZPA