Under-19s leave it late

11 August 2008 | By Justin Goulding

Liam Dawson claimed 5-39 to undermine New Zealand's run-chase © Getty Images

England Under-19s snatched a remarkable tie in the third one-day international against New Zealand to maintain their 1-0 lead in the series.

Set 238 to win under the floodlights at Hove, New Zealand appeared to be cruising at 148 for two, only for Liam Dawson to instigate a middle-order collapse that left them tottering on 185 for eight.

However, Greg Morgan and Nick Beard reduced the target to nine off the final over, entrusted to Luke Fletcher despite the fact his first three overs cost 30.

Morgan hit two of the first three balls for four to tie the scores but, with 32 to his name and just a single required from three deliveries, he top-edged a wild swing to short third man, where Hamza Riazuddin, running towards the boundary, took a splendid catch over his shoulder.

Morgan and Beard crossed while the ball was in the air, leaving Beard, who had batted sensibly in making 22 at a run a ball, on strike.

Yet, in attempting a similarly expansive stroke off the next ball, he had his middle stump knocked back by Fletcher, sparking astonishing scenes of jubilation among the England team.

If Fletcher was England’s last-gasp hero, Hampshire slow left-armer Dawson deserves immense credit for his haul of 5-39 off 10 overs, which checked New Zealand’s momentum after Michael Bracewell (47) and Greg Worker (41) had added 88 for the first wicket.

There were also three wickets for Sussex leg-spinner Will Beer, meaning 15 of the 20 wickets to fall in the match were captured by the slower bowlers on a surface offering turn and bounce throughout.

Earlier, Beard claimed 4-35 and Worker 3-14 with their left-arm spinners, performing a similar role to Beer and Dawson after Alex Hales and Alex Wakely put on 110 for the first wicket in 14 overs.

Hales hit 77 off just 64 balls, including 11 fours and a six, and Wakely a blistering 64 off 47, but, despite Ben Brown's 36, England lost their last eight wickets for 62 runs to be bowled out for 237 with almost four overs unused.

Fletcher and company ensured it was not to be the last collapse of the day.