England end with close defeat

England lost the final game of their Under-19 World Cup campaign today when they were pipped by New Zealand in the last over by two wickets in a very good game of cricket in Christchurch.

The result dictated the second-tier seedings for the next junior world cup, a meaningless exercise as there will be a different set of players in two years' time, but these consolation matches at least gave the fringe players a chance to excel.

The Warwickshire all-rounder Paul Best impressed, and the Surrey seam-bowler Matthew Dent took three early wickets when entrusted with the new ball for the first time. Neither player had appeared in the tournament proper.

For Best, 2009 was an outstanding year. Quite apart from his rugby ability, he was successful as Bablake School's cricket captain and signed for Warwickshire. He earned a place at Cambridge University for 2010 and led England Under-19 for the tour of Bangladesh last October. But in New Zealand there was a cruel twist.

The selectors decided that fellow left-armer Danny Briggs, of Hampshire, and Azeem Rafiq, the Yorkshire off-spinner, were stronger spin-bowlers, and Best lost the captaincy to Rafiq. And, worse than that, Best was omitted altogether.

Best said he enjoyed the tournament and "loved the atmosphere", using hard work to ease the frustration of not playing. "I knew that if Briggsy and Raf did their stuff it would be hard for me to force my way into the team," he said, "but I just carried on doing the same things I'd be doing if I was playing -- training hard and supporting the team. So wasn't too hateful. Not playing is definitely frustrating, but you've got to look at the bigger picture and look at the team rather than yourself."

Best certainly appeared to have come to terms with his status of fringe player. "Though it's disappointing, you've got to take the bigger picture into account. The county season isn't too far away now, so I've just got to keep preparing myself and keep working on my cricket. Through just being out here in New Zealand and being a reserve I'm approaching my training in a completely different way. I'm really focusing hard on every single ball I bowl in training to know that when I am asked to play a game I am completely ready."

Best's return against New Zealand at the Queen Elizabeth II ground was 10-0-40-1, a good effort, with his one victim the dangerous Doug Bracewell, nephew of Gloucestershire coach John, caught behind by Jos Buttler cutting. But England lost for the third time in a row when the host nation chased down England's 50-over total of 228-8 with two balls remaining.

Adam Ball, of Kent, produced probably his best bowling of the tournament with 7-1-29-0 in one spell, coming on as first change during the first powerplay with the gifted left-hander Corey Anderson arriving at the crease. Nathan Buck's opening three-over spell went for 24 runs, but he returned to have Craig Cachopa and Anderson caught off aggressive strokes in the same over on the midwicket boundary and at extra cover -- a diving catch by James Vince.

New Zealand left themselves with eight to win off Buck's final over, but an attempted yorker first ball became a full toss that was driven for four, and all-rounder Logan van Beek saw his side home comfortably, finishing with 51 off 46 balls.

With the bat, Ball hit 28 in 36 deliveries at No 9 -- including a straight six, which made him very proud -- to help the tail wag after all the upper order batsmen were dismissed for medium scores. Buttler perished early, cutting at the new ball, Best's Warwickshire colleague Ateeq Javid had to help rebuild before holing out at cowshot corner, just as Jack Manuel had done, and Best was lbw sweeping for a useful 20.

ENGLAND UNDER-19 (v New Zealand)

Joe Root (Yorks), Jos Buttler (Somerset), James Vince (Hants), Jack Manuel (Worcs), Ateeq Javid (Warwicks), Ben Stokes (Durham), Azeem Rafiq (Yorks, capt), Paul Best (Warwicks), Adam Ball (Kent), Nathan Buck (Leics), Matthew Dunn (Surrey).

Omitted: Chris Dent (Gloucs), Michael Bates (Hants, wkt), Danny Briggs (Hants), David Payne (Gloucs).

Coach: Mark Robinson (Sussex).