Taylor's century sets up Plate win for Zimbabwe

A masterly innings in tricky conditions by a schoolboy who turned 16 two days ago set up a 137-run win for Zimbabwe over Nepal in the final of the Plate Championship of the ICC Under-19 World Cup at Lincoln University today.

Brendon Taylor, batted throughout the innings and scored his 100 off the last ball of the 50th over to score his century, a lesson in concentration on a pitch which got lower and slower the further the innings went.

It was a test for an experienced batsman let alone a player who is likely to have a big role to play in Zimbabwe's next Under-19 World Cup tilt in two years time.

He played a sensible anchor role in an innings of contrasts. Runs flooded through in the first 15 overs, dried up to drought-like proportions in the second 15, and then poured through at a reasonable flow in the last 20 for Zimbabwe to reach 247/1.

Zimbabwe, after being 97/0 after 15 overs, were 128/1 after 30 overs, and finished on 247/1 at the end of their innings.

Nepal's slow bowlers, especially left-arm spinner Sakthi Gauchan and off-spinner Sanjam Regmi, bowled superbly during the middle stages. They took only Charles Coventry's wicket, when he was caught by wicket-keeper Manoj Katuwal from Regmi's bowling for 64 off 79 balls. But they slowed the run rate. Gauchan's 10 overs cost 32 runs while Regmi took one for 33 from his 10.

However, the Zimbabwean captain Tatenda Taibu, who was named the player of the tournament, showed why he has already played full Test cricket when joining Taylor and guiding him through the last 28 overs, gradually building the total to the point they scored 50 runs off 88 balls, but 100 runs off 146 balls, the second 50 off 58 balls.

By the time the innings ended they had scored 135 runs between them with Taibu finishing on 65 off 93 balls and Taylor 100 off 130 balls.

Zimbabwe coach Steve Rhodes said: "One hundred on that wicket, no matter who you are playing against was a great effort. Scoring it off 130 balls is quite a quick century.

"What I was really pleased about was the way Tatenda nursed a youngster along. It took Tatenda 10 overs to get going, it wasn't a big shot wicket and it wasn't easy batting," he said.

Taylor said: "I found it pretty difficult. The ball was turning a lot more and keeping lower the longer the innings went. But Tatenda guided me through and kept supporting me. I was pretty worried about our run rate but I thought if we got to 250 that would be fine, and if I got a century then that would be a bonus."

Nepal's best score at the tournament had been 205/5 against Scotland and Zimbabwe knew if they could get early wickets they would create enough pressure for the Nepalese to struggle.

A fine opening spell from both fast bowlers, Waddington Mwayenga, surely one of the bowlers of the tournament, and Alfred Mbwembwe, had Nepal in trouble almost from the start.

Mbwembwe had Yashwant Subedi leg before wicket in the fourth over and in the 13th over Mwayenga took the wickets of Kanishka Chaugai and Prem Chaudhary in the space of three balls to leave Nepal struggling at 43/4 in only the 13th over.

The 50 came up in the 15th over, but once the slower bowlers came in from that stage, the resistance ended very quickly. Stuart Matsikenyeri (two for 26), Stanley Marisa (one for eight) and Hamilton Masakadza (three for 16) proved for too proficient for the middle and lower order.

Coach Roy Dias said: "Zimbabwe played very good cricket, positive cricket and they had a great start.

"My fear was always my batting, it was a pity we lost the toss. But Zimbabwe deserved to win, they out-played us."