ICC Under-19 World Cup
30 January 2010 Richardson instrumental in Australia's ICC World Cup win
Australia Under-19 has defeated Pakistan by 25-runs in the final of the ICC Under-19 World Cup today at Bert Sutcliffe Oval just outside Christchurch in New Zealand today. Australia lost the toss and was sent in to bat but quickly found early trouble before a middle and lower-order revival helped them to 9-207 from their 50 overs before knocking over Pakistan for 182 in 46.4 overs.
It’s Australia’s third ICC Under-19 World Cup win, after taking home the trophy at the inaugural event in 1988, as well as in 2002, coincidentally also played at the Bert Sutcliffe Oval and captain Mitch Marsh said the win felt unbelievable.
“To tell you the truth it feels absolutely amazing; to defend 200 was a great effort from our bowlers with their batting line-up,” Marsh said post-match.
“To win the World Cup is just an amazing feeling and I’m just so happy for all the boys, and I’m just so happy for them; speechless really.
“We knew if we took early wickets the pressure would be right back on them, unfortunately we didn’t get those early wickets today but one of the things we had written up on the board in the rooms was belief and we never stopped believing today.”
Even though he lost the toss Marsh was happy to bat first on a wicket that had widely been considered a ‘bowl-first pitch’.
“We knew that having runs on the board in these sorts of matches is pivotal and in the end the pressure might have got to the Pakistanis and credit to our bowlers, they bowled beautifully,” the West Australian said.
“We thought that we could always back ourselves to defend totals and it worked for us and I think instilling that confidence in our batsman to tough it out for those first 15 overs was a key for us.”
After falling to 1-15 Pakistan mounted a fight-back until the left-arm orthodox spin of Luke Doran entered the attack and immediately struck twice as he finished with 3-32 from his 10 tidy overs and it was a turning point in the match not lost on the skipper.
“He’s a very smart person who thinks about his fields and his bowling and it was a great effort from him after missing those first couple of games and for him to come back the way he has is excellent; I couldn’t be more happy for him,” Marsh said.
Although Pakistan got off to a solid start, Marsh was very happy with the way his team toughed out the result.
“In our first couple of warm-up games I think we were pretty sloppy in the field as a team but that was one of our goals to be one of the best fielding sides and to reach the final and have a good day is just amazing,” the 18-year-old said.
With some close finishes in the final matches, Marsh paid tribute to the fantastic support the team’s received both at the ground from supporters and messages from abroad.
“Our supporters have been fantastic for us and I think in some games they have definitely helped get us over the line with their support and we’re very grateful for that,” he said.
“We’ve had a lot of messages sent through to us; the Australian Cricket Team sent us all a letter which was terrific, and we’ve had a lot of support from back home which is great.”
27 January 2010 Skipper steers Australia Under-19 into World Cup final
Australia Under-19 is through to the Final of the 2010 ICC Under-19 World Cup after skipper Mitch Marsh almost single-handedly guided his team to a two-wicket win against Sri Lanka in today’s semi-final at Bert Sutcliffe Oval, just outside Christchurch.
After bowling Sri Lanka out for 205 in 48.2 overs, the Aussies faltered in the run chase, losing continuous wickets before eventually getting across the line with 10 balls to spare at 8-206. It was the skipper’s innings that engineered the win and earned him the Man of the Match award; a knock that included 13 boundaries before he fell just short of his century for 97 and with the team in sight of victory. After play, Marsh said he was very happy with the win, but more excited to be going on to play Pakistan in Saturday’s final.
“I think run chases in finals are always pretty tough and they’re the sort of games you never win two or three down. It’s a credit to the boys at the end who stuck to their guns and got us over the line,” Marsh said.
Marsh’s innings was clinical from the moment he walked to the crease with the score at 1-3, but as wickets fell around him he continued to keep the score ticking over, eventually finding a good partner in wicket-keeper Tom Triffitt and he noted the importance of the partnership post-match.
“When you get those sorts of scores you always want to go on and make hundreds but it was a pretty good catch and at the end of the day it was just important for us to get the win,” the 18-year-old said.
“Being 5-90 at one stage I think we’ve done pretty well to win and my partnership with Triff (Tom Triffitt) towards the end there was pivotal and that’s what you need in these sorts of games.”
The pair put on an 81-run partnership before Marsh departed with victory in sight at 6-172, but Triffitt continued on before departing with just four runs needed for 50. Earlier, Sri Lankan skipper Chathura Pieris won the toss and elected to bat, but the Aussie quicks had other ideas as they ran through the top order leaving them reeling at 5-32 after 10 overs.
The Sri Lankan lower-order mounted a solid fight back that saw them post a defendable target over 200, with Aussies quick Josh Hazlewood finishing as the pick of the bowlers with 4-26 while his new-ball partner Alister McDermott was also destructive early taking 2-43. The form of the Australian fast bowlers has been a highlight all Cup and Marsh said he was very happy with their form today, especially early on.
“You always want to bat first on tracks like that but credit to the way the boys came out and the attitude of the fielders and bowlers,” the West Australian said.
“In these sorts of games if you can bowl consistently good areas you’re always going to get wickets and that’s what the two big guys did at the start.”
Looking ahead to Saturday, Marsh said he was looking forward to the challenge and hoping to return home with a bit of silverware.
“Pakistan’s going to be a tough encounter, they’re a very well drilled side and if we can just keep doing the basics right then I think we’re in for a good day Saturday,” he said.
“They’ve got a fair bit of experience at the top of the order and a few good spinners so we’ll look to counter them and hopefully we can do the job.”
Australia plays Pakistan in the final on Saturday at Bert Sutcliffe Oval and the match will be telecast live in Australia on FOX SPORTS from 8:30am AEDT (check local guides).
Full scorecard from today’s match
Information about Australia’s Under-19 World Cup campaign
24 January 2010 - Australia Under-19 through to semi-finals
Australia Under-19 is through to the semi-finals of the ICC Under-19 World Cup after a solid 62-run win over Trans-Tasman rival New Zealand at Mainpower Oval in Rangiora today.
After winning the toss and electing to bat, Australia was restricted to 8-232 by some good bowling from the young Black Caps through the middle and latter overs before the visitors then applied the screws as New Zealand was dismissed for 170 in 43.2 overs. A strong crowd of around 1500 filled the hill around the ground and there was no doubt who the majority were supporting as every Australian wicket fell.
After the match Australian captain Mitchell Marsh said he was pleased with the result and the way his team executed their skills in a must-win encounter.
“It’s obviously a great feeling for us to get the win today; we bowled really well and we had a little bit of luck with the weather staying away and we’re now looking forward to playing Sri Lanka on Wednesday,” Marsh said.
“It was awesome to play in front of a crowd like that out there today. I think it was the first time some of our boys have played in front of a crowd like that.”
“Hopefully we can get a crowd like that for the semi final and then again if we can make the final.”
Earlier it was the skipper who put the Australians in a strong position as the West Australian made a slick 53 before he was sensationally run out by Harry Boam with a direct hit from backward point. Batting at three, he combined with opener Nic Maddinson (32) early in the innings after fellow opener Tom Beaton was dismissed and the pair put on 69 for the second wicket.
“That was one of our goals to have a good partnership at the start of the innings. I think in one-day cricket that’s really important and we were able to do that and post a pretty competitive target on that wicket,” the 18-year-old said.
After lunch the gloomy clouds rolled in and although it got extremely dark and light rain fell luckily no play was lost, but Marsh noted he was conscious of the Duckworth-Lewis par score for the first 20 overs, which are required to get a result.
The skipper brought the spinners into the attack early to get through some quick overs and it came up trumps as they did the early damage with Jason Floros (2-27) grabbing a wicket with his first ball, while Luke Doran (2-36) also chipped in as the Kiwis slipped to 3-64 after 16.4 overs.
“Our thought process there was that we’d rather have a crack at winning the game than losing because of the rain. It was a bit lucky that it came off but the spinners bowled well,” Marsh said.
After 20 overs the quicks came back on and worked their way through New Zealand’s middle-order as Josh Hazlewood (2-24), Nick Buchanan (2-29) and Alex Keath (2-27) all made an impact and the fielders snared some tough chances.
“I was never really comfortable that we were in front out there at any stage but the boys bowled well and just kept taking wickets which was the key for us,” Marsh said.
“In these sorts of games it can come down to holding those difficult catches and if we can keep holding those chances than hopefully things can keep going our way.
Australia now plays Sri Lanka in a knock-out semi-final on Wednesday at Bert Sutcliffe Oval and the match will be telecast live in Australia on FOX SPORTS (check local guides).
Full scorecard from today’s match
More information about Australia’s Under-19 World Cup campaign
20 January 2010 - Australia Under-19 goes down in thriller
Australia Under-19 has suffered a nail biting two-wicket loss to South Africa in their final Group B match at the World Cup in Queenstown, New Zealand today.
After winning the toss and batting; Australia posted 7-276 before South Africa chased down the target for the loss of eight wickets with just two balls remaining to finish 8-278 in 49.4 overs. The win means South Africa finishes top of Group B and will play Sri Lanka on Sunday, while Australia will play New Zealand at Rangiora in Super League Quarter Final Two, also on Sunday.
South Africa got off to a flyer in their chase, advancing quickly to 4-172 off 28.2 overs and looked in complete control before some tight bowling got the Australians back into the game. Skipper Mitch Marsh said he was disappointed with the narrow loss, but happy to get it out of the way now than in the finals.
"It was obviously disappointing to lose but I think there are a lot of positives that we can take out of that," Marsh said
"If we can just work on a few things over the next couple of days; I thought our fielding let us down a bit today, but I know we can get a lot better than that and I'd rather we get that out of the way now than later in the tournament.
"Looking forward now though; we know New Zealand is a pretty good side, it should be a good game on Sunday and we're really looking forward to it and getting back up to Christchurch."
South African opener Dominic Hendricks was the thorn in the Australians side as he piled on 94 including eight boundaries before falling to the medium pace of birthday boy Alex Keath, who turned 18 today. Marsh was quick to pay tribute to the South Africans after the match and the attacking way they went about their cricket.
"South Africa batted beautifully today, especially early in the innings and although it got tight towards the end they held on and congratulations to them," the 18-year-old said.
"They've played some pretty good cricket all day they've deserved to win, but we're just focused on Sunday now and I know we're all looking forward to it."
Keath's seven overs of mediums were vital in helping get Australia's bowling plans back on track as he picked up 3-34, while Kane Richardson was the pick of the quicks grabbing 3-49 from his 10 overs. Earlier in the day, Australia found themselves in a little bit of trouble at 2-40, before Victorian Keath and Queenslander Jason Floros came to the crease and resurrect the innings. Keath was again solid, turning over the strike with Floros powering some classic cover and straight drives that saw the pair put on a 125-run partnership, before Keath fell for 64.
Floros stuck around with Tim Armstrong (48) to accelerate the innings, before being undone just four short of his century, out for a brilliant 96 that included eight fours and a six. After play, Marsh said he was extremely happy with how the middle order was going, particularly the form of Floros and Keath.
"I thought Jason Floros' innings and Keathy's (Alex Keath) innings were fantastic through the middle overs today and really helped us get back on track."
Australia now plays New Zealand on Sunday in Super League Quarter Final two with the outcome of that match to determine who they play after that.
Australia Under-19 goes two from two
Australia Under-19 is undefeated after their opening two matches in the ICC Under-19 World Cup, easily accounting for Ireland by 209-runs today at Queenstown Cricket Ground in New Zealand.
Batting first, Australia made 5-274 from their 50 overs before the quicks ran through the Irish line-up in only 24.2 overs for just 65 runs. Earlier, Irish skipper Andy Balbirnie won the toss and sent the Aussies in to bat, a move that paid early dividends as Australia slipped to 4-114. However, a match winning mid-innings partnership between Alex Keath and Tim Armstrong swung the match back Australia's way, pleasing skipper Mitch Marsh who paid tribute to the pair after the match.
"Obviously it was a good win and it was very pleasing the way we went about it today," Marsh said.
"Our middle order helped us out; at 3-70 things weren't looking too good but Keathy (Alex Keath) and Tim Armstrong set the platform for us and batted beautifully and for our bowlers to finish like that was a great result.
"Keathy showed a lot of maturity to bat through the innings like that which is what we needed and for Timmy to finish off like that is exactly what he's in the team for so it was a great result."
Keath came into the team today for his first outing after missing out yesterday and made the most of his opportunity picking up the Man of the Match award. The lanky all-rounder was the glue in Australia's innings, combining with Armstrong to put on a 115-run partnership and mastermind Australia's comeback. He eventually departed for a clinical 88 from 111 deliveries with the Australians back in control of the match at 5-229, leaving the heavy hitting to Armstrong and Kane Richardson who provided some late innings fireworks.
Armstrong finished unbeaten on 73 and was pivotal at the end to get the Australian score well over 250 while Richardson provided an entertaining cameo making 24 not out. Earlier in the innings, opener Tom Beaton (53) was again in good touch, notching-up his second half century in as many days. In reply the Irish struggled as the Australian quicks showed no interest in a repeat performance of yesterday where they let the USA put on a late innings comeback. It was another aspect of today's performance that pleased Marsh.
"I think we really improved on yesterday and being able to finish off what we started, not only for the bowlers but for the fielders as well," Marsh said.
"I thought we fielded and bowled a lot better today and the result came our way. We'll have a rest day tomorrow and training on Tuesday and we'll be ripe and ready for Wednesday.
"It should be a good game and we're looking forward to it."
Big Queensland quick Nick Buchanan was the destroyer with the ball, coming in to the side today for his first match and snared a tidy 4-16, ripping the heart out of the Irish middle-order. However, it was South Australian Kane Richardson who did the early damage, taking the first two wickets before Buchanan got in on the action. Richardson had the ball swinging early on, giving the Irish top order plenty to think about on his way to taking 3-23 in his first match, while Armstrong backed up his batting to capture 2-6 from 2.2 overs in a stellar all-round performance.
Australia now sits on top of table in Group B, with the final group match against South Africa on Wednesday to decide the final make-up of the group standings.
Ben Dougall warms up
Saturday, 16 January 2010
Australia Under-19 has started their World Cup campaign in fine fashion with a 108-run with over the United States of America at Queenstown Cricket Ground in New Zealand today.
Australia Under-19 captain Mitch Marsh won the toss and elected to bat on a flat wicket and under clear blue skies with Australia going on to amass 263 in 49.2 overs.
As good as the batting was at times, it was the early work of the Australian quicks who ran through the USA top and middle order before some late resistance helped the post a respectable 154 in 41.2 overs.
Marsh said it was nice to come away with a solid win, but said there were still plenty of areas his team could improve ahead of tomorrow’s clash with Ireland.
"It was obviously good to get a win first up. Wins are habits so we’re going to go into next game with some good confidence,” the 18-year-old said.
Opener Tom Beaton got the innings off to a flying start as Australia moved to 1-107 at drinks, with Beaton finishing as Australia’s top scorer with 73 from 76 deliveries, and the Man of the Match award.
Beaton’s partner at the top of the order was Nic Maddinson who looked in sparkling touch early, racing to 32 from just 37 deliveries before being stumped as the pair put on 81 for the opening stand.
Post-match, Marsh highlighted just how important it is in limited overs matches to get off to a solid start and was pleased that both openers were working well together.
“In one-day cricket it’s important to get off to a good start, with both bat and ball, and I think we did that today,” Marsh said.
“They’ve formed a great relationship not only as friends but as an opening partnership now and if they can continue doing that for us at the top of the order it’s fantastic.”
All-rounder Tim Armstrong made an important contribution during Australia’s middle overs, making 39 as he guided the side to a large total with some help from the lower order.
Australia’s big quicks then fired early, making light work of the USA top order and Marsh is hoping Alister McDermott (4-29) and Josh Hazlewood (3-46) can carry their good form into tomorrow’s match.
McDermott was deadly early, steaming into the breeze and hitting great lines and lengths, snaring the first three wickets, before Hazlewood joined the action.