Harry Tector’s brilliant century ensured Ireland’s Under 19 cricketers finished the World Cup on a winning note with a 102-run win over Namibia in the 13th place play-off clash in Christchurch.
The Irish captain struck ten boundaries in his 101 to help Ireland post 288 for 6, the fourth time a hundred has been scored by the Irish at U19 finals. The YMCA all-rounder shares pretty exalted company – Eoin Morgan (twice) and Paul Stirling being the others.
He shared a fifth wicket stand of 106 in 128 balls with Rush left-hander Neil Rock, who hit six boundaries in a fluent 55, finishing as his team’s leading run scorer in the tournament.
Rock made 235 runs, ahead of Tector (216) and Jamie Grassi (206), the latter hitting a boundary laden 51 from just 41 balls as he and Mark Donegan (30) got the Boys In Green off to a rapid start with an opening stand of 80 from just 64 balls.
The Irish stuttered slightly at 121 for 4, but thanks once again to the consistency of Tector and Rock, soon rebuilt.
Despite the loss of Rock, Josh Little played a typically hard-hit cameo with 28 from just 21 balls – including the only two sixes of the innings – as he and Tector added 53 in just 41 balls to finish the innings strongly.
Namibian skipper Lohan Louwrens ensured the Irish didn’t have things completely their own way as he made a run-a-ball 62 (9 fours), but his dismissal sparked a collapse to put Ireland in complete control.
Namibia lost four wickets for just eight runs going from 91 for 2 to 99 for 6, with the Pembroke pair of Josh Little (3-33) and JJ Garth (2-39) doing the damage.
Gerhard Lottering (46) and Nicol Loftie-Eaton (28) rallied briefly but Namibia were eventually dismissed for 186 as the Irish ended the tournament on a winning note.
Speaking afterwards, skipper Tector was delighted with the team display.
“Going into today we wanted to prove ourselves, putting in a complete performance, and make a statement. We wanted to show what we could do, and it’s a great way to sign off the trip.
“It’s a great feeling to score a World Cup hundred following up the one against England in the warm-ups, and it was pleasing that it came in a win with the bonus of a Man-of-the-Match award.”
Looking ahead to the summer, Tector hoped that this tournament would be a launch pad for himself and his team mates.
“There is a lot of Academy, Wolves and interpro cricket to be played and this has been a good stepping stone. I certainly hope to feature in the interpros, wherever that may be, and my performances here will help with further opportunities.”
Under 19 World Cup, At Lincoln,
Ireland 288/6 (50 overs; H Tector 101, N Rock 55, J Grassi 51, M Donegan 30, J Little 28*; M Ngupita 2-41)
Namibia 186 all out (39.1 overs; L Louwrens 62, G Lottering 46, N Loftie-Eaton 28; J Little 3-33, JJ Garth 2-39)
Ireland beat Namibia by 102 runs