ICC

NZ U19 shares points at Cricket World Cup

Posted Saturday, 18 January, 2020 in International Match Reports

ICC UNDER 19 CRICKET WORLD CUP 2020


NEW ZEALAND U19 v JAPAN U19

North West University Oval, Potchefstroom, South Africa
18 January 2020

TOSS: JAPAN

Result: No result (washout)

SCORECARD

New Zealand Under 19 formed part of cricket history in their opening Group match at the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup, first-up opponent Japan Under 19 making its maiden appearance at an ICC World Cup event, at any level, but only 28.5 overs would prove possible before drizzle dampened the occasion for all concerned.

Japan captain Marcus Thurgate won the toss and elected to bowl.

New Zealand’s opening pair, Ollie White and Rhys Mariu, made a sound start against Japan’s opening attack of Kenta Oba-Dobell and Yugandhar Rethareka — Mariu putting NZ U19’s 50 on the board in the 10th over with a boundary off first change Max Clements, who was struggling to find his line.

PHOTOSPORT

The 100 was up in just the 13th. Mariu had taken four boundaries off Clements's next over, and left-hander White followed suit — forcing a double change as the pair freed their arms and closed in on respective half centuries.

Rhys Mariu | PHOTOSPORT

Mariu got there first, off 53 balls (6x4) in the 16th — but became Japan’s very first wicket the very next ball, caught by Sora Ichiki off Neel Date at 119/1.

White was joined by Fergus Lellman poised on 47*, and brought up his fifty in the next over, off 45 balls (7x4) with a single off Ichiki.

Opening batsman Oliver White celebrates his half century | PHOTOSPORT

Date and Ichiki looked to stem the run flow as NZ U19 settled, but NZ U19 soon picked up the scoring rate again as White and Lellman ushered their side past the 150-mark in the 22nd over.

The pair put on a quick 67 for the third wicket with Lellman racing to a run-a-ball 30* before the return of opener Yugandhar Rethareka delivered a wicket first ball of his second spell, White departing on 80 (81 balls, 10x4) in the 28th over.

Fergus Lellman | PHOTOSPORT

The reappearance of drizzly weather interrupted the 29th over and led to a protracted break.

NZ U19 had been well on course for a big total at 195/2 (Lellman 37*, Beckham Wheeler-Greenall 2*) and, sadly for both sides, there would be no further play; the points shared in the New Zealand and Japan's historic first Group game at the 2020 CWC.

Among other opening round results, West Indies U19 upset Australia U19 in a thriller. NZ U19 now gets ready for Sri Lanka on Wednesday night New Zealand time.

 

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