Ireland under-19’s completed their World Cup group stages in Fatullah with another improved showing but ultimately another defeat as New Zealand claimed 3rd spot in Group D with a four wicket win.
A superb stand between 16-year old Finn Allen and 17- year old Dale Phillips worth 141 runs shattered Irish hopes after Rory Anders had given the Black Caps a real scare with an impressive spell of new ball bowling.
Chasing Ireland’s 212 all out in a 48 overs per side contest, the Kiwis had been reduced to 45-4 before Allen and Phillips came together after Phoenix’s Anders had blown away the top order with a brilliant 4-32.
Opener, Glenn Phillips (34), was the only batsman to hold firm early on, but once the 5th wicket pair got going, New Zealand were able to work their way back into the game. Allen looked a real prospect as he hit 9 fours and 4 sixes in his knock but was denied a deserved century when bowled by Fiachra Tucker just three runs short.
Tucker (2-26) also claimed the wicket of Dale Phillips but only after he had made a very valuable 58, and by which time New Zealand were able to ease home with nearly 8 overs to spare.
Earlier in the day an 85-run stand between Jack Tector and Adam Dennison had given the Irish side a good platform, but only Gary McClintock (34) was among the runs thereafter. Tector hit 6 fours and a six on his way to 56 while Dennison reached the boundary 7 times as he added 46.
Unfortunately for Ireland it was an all-too-familiar story after that as they lost 6 wickets for just 24 runs to be all out for 212. Lorcan Tucker (14) and William McClintock (11) fared best of the middle order but the spin of Josh Finnie (3-30) and Rachin Ravindra (3-36) was the batting side’s undoing.
Josh Little added a cameo of 17 in a last-wicket stand of 21 with Tom Stanton before both were run out just before the end.
Allen picked up the man-of-the-match award for his game-changing innings as both these sides now go forward to the Plate competition having failed to qualify from the group.
ICC U19 World Cup
At Fatullah, New Zealand U19 beat Ireland U19 by six wickets
Ireland 212 all out (47.5 overs; J Tector 56, A Dennison 46, G McClintock 34, J Finnie 3-30, R Ravindra 3-36)
New Zealand 213-6 (40.1 overs; F Allen 97, D Phillips 58, G Phillips 34, R Anders 4-32, F Tucker 2-26)