Youth team wraps up series with one to play

New Zealand might be struggling for success with its premier team but its Under-19 side took out the three-Test youth series with South Africa at Bert Sutcliffe Oval at Lincoln University today.

New Zealand won by six wickets when achieving there target of 257 runs.

They were in early trouble when losing three wickets for only 47 runs at the start of the day.

But a fine 134-run partnership between two of the younger members of the side, 17-year-old Aucklander Rob Nicol, who was forced to retire hurt when breaking a bone in his hand when on 87, and 16-year-old Ross Taylor from the Wairarapa, who scored 72, was enough to regain the initiative from the South Africans.

Brendon McCullum came in and ensured his side would go two-up in the series with 46 runs scored off 42 balls.

That gave him 355 runs in the series, scored off 355 balls, at an average of 177.5.

Team manager Dayle Hadlee was delighted with the win.

"To come back from 70/7 in the first inningsand turn that around to win is unbelievable," he said.

"They played with a lot of pride and they played positively and to score at the rate of 4.5 runs an over was outstanding.

"It was nice to see newer players in Rob Nicol and Ross Taylor playing such a big role in the win.

"Brendon McCullum is excelling at this level. All three of us junior selectors, (Bruce Morrison and John Howell select with Hadlee) haven't seen a player at this level who has been so dominant.

"He went to Sri Lanka last year and was the stand out wicket-keeper so we knew what his wicket-keeping was like but his decision-making when batting was not the best.

"But this season his decision-making has been good," he said.

Hadlee said McCullum spends a lot of time before batting, standing out in the middle, at both ends of the pitch doing visualisation to mentally prepare himself before each innings.

Hadlee said he was thrilled for New Zealand's new youth coach, former international Mark Greatbatch.

"His planning is meticulous, the boys are right behind him and hopefully it will encourage him to continue in the role," he said.

Hadlee said the recovery from 47/3, especially by the two young batsmen was most impressive. South African fast bowler Monde Zondeki was bowling very quickly and there were a lot of nerves in the New Zealand camp.

But by running well between the wickets and putting the pressure on defensively set fields they had lifted the side towards victory.

As a result of the injury to Nicol, another Wairarapa player Jesse Ryder is being called into the New Zealand side for the third Test starting at Pukekura Park on Saturday.

Ryder is playing for the New Zealand Maori team in the Pacifica Cup in Auckland at the moment.