Cricket: Bridge too far for Kiwis

ENGLAND UNDER-19s pulled off a thrilling 62-run victory in the first Test of the three-match series against their New Zealand counterparts on a final day of fluctuating fortunes in New Plymouth yesterday.

The opener Michael Papps looked to be steering the Kiwis to an unlikely win as they reached the tea interval on 260 for 2, chasing a target of 374. However, in a dramatic final session Papps was dismissed for 117 by slow left-armer Graeme Bridge who took four wickets as New Zealand crumbled to 311 all out.

England had let the Kiwis back into the game after a sloppy show in the field, but New Zealand lost eight wickets for 51 in the space of 20 overs and were bowled out with nine overs of the final hour to go.

"The first two sessions today were the poorest we've had on tour so far," the England manager, Mike Gatting, said. "I got the feeling that our boys thought they only had to turn up. "

Papps was out first ball after tea, playing on to Bridge as he made room to cut. The bowler came into his own in the final session, finishing with figures of 4 for 91 and seven wickets in the match. Bruce Martin was last man out, plumb lbw to Richard Logan, a fitting finish because of the crucial part he had played with bat and ball.

Final day: England won toss

ENGLAND UNDER-19 XI - First Innings 285 (R K J Dawson 67, R J Logan 63, I N Flanagan 53; H Shaw 5-49).

NEW ZEALAND UNDER-19 XI - First Innings 202 (M Papps 64).

ENGLAND UNDER-19 XI - Second Innings 290 (I R Bell 91, M P Bulbeck 51; B Martin 5-76).

NEW ZEALAND UNDER-19 XI - Second Innings

T McIntosh c and b Bridge 36

M Papps b Bridge 117

B Patton b Bulbeck 82

*J I Englefield b Logan 21

M Gillespie c and b Dawson 26

J E G Franklin c Carberry b Bridge 8

P McGlashan run out 5

H Shaw c Carberry b Dawson 3

M Hendry lbw b Bridge 2

B Jansen not out 2

B Martin lbw b Logan 0

Extras (b4 lb5) 9

Total (109.1 overs) 311

Fall: 1-67 2-225 3-260 4-264 5-293 6-303 7-304 8-307 9-310.

Bowling: M P Bulbeck 7-1-34-1; R J Logan 18.1-2-53-2; G R Bridge 37-10- 91-4; R K J Dawson 33-8-83-2; M A Gough 9 -2-25-0; J R Tucker 5-0-16-0.

Umpires: R J Pitcairn and M McLean.