They've done it! New Zealand Under 19 has defeated the West Indies in a thrilling ICC Under 19 Cricket World Cup quarterfinal run chase in South Africa with CD Under 19 captain JOEY FIELD sharing in the Under 19 Cricket World Cup's highest ever ninth-wicket stand to win a thriller with two balls to spare.

Allrounder Field was the perfect wingman for man of the match Kristian Clarke as the pair nailed a tough rearguard run chase against one of the most impressive sides at the tournament, and New Zealand are now heading to last four, alongside defending champions India.

SCORECARD

Field (2-52) and David Hancock got the quarterfinal off to a disciplined start with the ball after having been asked to field, reducing the West Indies to 34/2 by the end of the Powerplay.

Kirk McKenzie (99) lifted the pace of the West Indies innings, however from 183/3 in the 36th over NZ U19 fought back strongly with the ball to take the next five wickets for just 22 runs, captain Jesse Tashkoff (2-35) and Kristian Clarke both picking up two wickets.

Battling cramp, McKenzie had retired after a superb 99 and had to be stretchered off, only to be bowled when he returned. Still affected by his leg, in a special moment Field helped carry the last West Indies batsman off the field.

Chasing 238, things did not start well for the New Zealand top order and, despite a 48-run stand between opener Rhys Mariu and Fergus Lellman, West Indies reduced the side reduced to 67/4.

Keeper Quinn Sunde and Simon Keene started to rebuild, putting on a valuable 51-stand for the fifth wicket before falling for 32 and 33 respectively.

The West Indies spinners stemmed the flow of runs with Ashmead Nedd quickly claiming 3-33. When Keene feathered him in the 31st over, NZ Under 19 was in deep trouble at 148 for six. At 153 for eight by the end of the 35th, they were still trailing by 85 runs and under real pressure.

However, allrounders Field (38* off 58) and Clarke (46* off 42) then produced one of the great fightbacks of the tournament.

After a careful start to their partnership, after seeing off the dangerman Nedd Field found the boundary at the end of the 43rd over as the pair began to build momentum at the death.

With five overs left, they had still needed 51 runs, Nyeem Young coming back into the attack and keeping it tight.

Fourteeen runs off Matthew Forde's 47th over got the runs flowing again, Clarke punching a six into he stands before Field blasted his second boundary.

The equation was now a nerve-wracking 31 off 18, but Clarke crunched a big 48th off Young - pelting 13 runs from it while Field contributed a single to the turn the strike back over to him for a last-ball four.

Down to the last two overs, NZ Under 19 needed 17 runs as both teams sat on the edge of their seats. Forde dotted down, then conceded a wide. Field squeaked a single off the next delivery before a second wide delivery contributed to 10 off the over: the pair now needed just seven from the last six balls of the game.

Young took the ball, Clarke on strike and finding a single to turn the strike over to Field - who immediately found the fence! The pair ran a single off the third delivery to level the scores before Clarke struck the winning run next ball for a brilliant rearguard win.

As their teammates sprinted towards them, Field and Clarke couldn't contain their joy after a nerveless 86-run stand for the ninth wicket. Man of the match Clarke's unbeaten 46* is the highest score by a number 10 batsman in all of the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup's history, while the brilliant stand likewise was an all-time tournament record for the ninth wicket.

New Zealand now joins defending champion India in the Super League semi-finals - the opponents yet to be determined.

What a proud day for the Havelock club in Hawke's Bay!

Article added: Thursday 30 January 2020