Cricket: Marsh douses New Zealand hopes

Doug Bracewell, of New Zealand, bowls during the quarter final against Australia. Photo / Getty Images

New Zealand fell short of their third seeding when they lost by 62 runs to Australia in an under-19 cricket World Cup quarter-final at Rangiora yesterday.

New Zealand, who finished third when the competition was last held in Malaysia, will now seek consolation in the fifth-to-eighth playoffs beginning with a match against South Africa today.

Australia batted first and scored 232 for eight with skipper Mitchell Marsh top scoring with 53.

The New Zealand attack was blunted by handy contributions from Nicolas Maddinson, 37, Alexander Keath, 32, and Timothy Armstrong, 39.

New Zealand's reply stumbled out of the blocks and never recovered as a disciplined Australian attack, backed by sharp fielding, put the clamps on.

At 90 for six after 23.3 overs, New Zealand's hopes were briefly revived by a 40-run stand featuring Craig Cachopa and Douglas Bracewell for the seventh wicket. But once Cachopa departed for 34, the Australians quickly wrapped up the innings, dismissing New Zealand for 170.

Josh Hazlewood, Luke Doran, Jason Floroa, Nicholas Buchanan and Alexander with two wickets each shared the spoils.

In the semifinals, Australia will play Sri Lanka at Palmerston North tomorrow while Pakistan will play West Indies at Christchurch.

Sri Lanka cruised to a 146-run win over South Africa with the Duckworth-Lewis method called into play to separate the sides after a weather-affected match at Christchurch yesterday.

Sri Lanka amassed 293 for 8 with Banuka Rajapaksa 79, Kithuruwan Vithanage 45 and Rumesh Buddika 42 starring with the bat.

In reply, South Africa scored 145 for 6 in 36.4 overs as Charith Jayampathi took four for 31.

Yesterday, Pakistan and the West Indies battled hard to win their quarter-finals in rain-marred matches.

At Lincoln, Pakistan pipped defending champions India by two wickets with three balls to spare in a thrilling clash between the great rivals.

The West Indies beat England by 18 runs in Rangiora in a match reduced to 36 overs each.

- NZPA