England lose to India in losers play-off

Somerset batsman Jos Buttler top-scored for England in a heavy defeat by India today as the fall-out continued after the painful quarter-final exit from the Under-19 World Cup in New Zealand.

Buttler almost carried his bat, last out caught on the long-off boundary in the 50th over for 78, but another weak batting performance overall in Christchurch led to a seven-wicket defeat in the play-off competition for losing teams.

Hagley Park, the game's leafy venue in the city centre, has been earmarked for development by the Canterbury Cricket Association into a Test venue next year. With the old Lancaster Park now a rugby stadium, the Queen Elizabeth II ground at New Brighton, Rangiora and even Lincoln University have been considered, but all have drawbacks. Hagley Park, where every blade of grass has been jealously protected through the ages, could join the list of new Test venues after a change in attitude by the city council. England have played on all four grounds in this tournament.

Against India on a slow pitch England mustered only 176 all out in 49.2 overs, and the score would have been much lower if Buttler had not decided to anchor one end after a cluster of wickets had fallen, a batting frailty that had led to their 18-run defeat by West Indies on Saturday.

The bitter pill might have tasted slightly sweeter if the West Indies had pressed onwards to the final, but they didn't. Pakistan beat them by four wickets chasing 212 in today's semi-final at Lincoln University in a similar match to the England quarter-final.

As against England, the West Indies did not make a safe total, despite an innings of 85 by Kraigg Brathwaite, excellent again, but in reply they had Pakistan under the thumb at 49 for four in the 20th over. Whereas England had not recovered from a top-order failure, Pakistan did, as an undefeated 92 off 93 balls by Hammad Azam swept them to an unlikely victory. Though Jason Holder, the 6ft 7in Barbadian, was by far the best bowler as against England, he was not allowed to add to his two early wickets.

Pakistan, champions in 2004 and 2006, will meet the winners of tomorrow's semi-final between Australia and Sri Lanka in the final at Lincoln University on Saturday.

As Buttler had travelled to India with Somerset Sabres to play in the Champions League T20 last October, much was expected of him in New Zealand, but his tooth infection undermined his influence, and he had to watch the all-important India group victory in the pavilion after an emergency visit to the dentist that morning.

Buttler said: "The world cup has been been quite strange in a way because I haven't actually batted in the middle very much, but it has been great experience playing, and we've got a really good team spirit in the side. It's been good fun as well. I actually feel we've been competitive with other teams, and I think we've given a good account of ourselves."

He said his best moment had been as a non-player with a throbbing mouth watching England beat India for the first time in the World Cup after four previous defeats. "It was a great team effort. I had had a bad day in the morning with my tooth. I got to the ground just before the start, and it was a brilliant day for us."

In today's sunshine at Hagley Park there were few 'positives' for the England coach Mark Robinson apart from Buttler and the Warwickshire left-arm spinner Paul Best, very good on the day in his first appearance. And even Buttler was dropped twice in three balls on 26 before finding some fluency. His fellow opener Joe Root, of Yorkshire, gernered only seven in 41 balls while dominating the strike.

Atiq Javid accelerated the rate with typical verve in his 34 off 47 balls before holing out at mid-off, and Best was dropped in the covers before running himself out, sent back by Buttler after a misfield.

Buttler continued as the senior batsman, and his final shot appeared to be carrying for six until the ball slowed in the wind and dropped into Harpreet Singh's hands on the boundary.

India launched their reply aggressively, and two driven sixes off David Payne by Akshath Reddy spoilt the Gloucestershire left-armer's figures. Best tied up Reddy for a while and once sent a spinner leaping past the Indian's off stump as he aimed to leg, but he had little luck, and a catch by Buttler above his head at extra cover provided his only success. The match was lost by the time Nathan Buck picked up two wickets in his second spell, including Reddy, who lobbed up a leading edge on 94 and walked off in tears.

England's last play-off match is against New Zealand at Queen Elizabeth II tomorrow before their departure on Thursday.



ENGLAND UNDER-19 (v India)

Joe Root (Yorks), Jos Buttler (Somerset), James Vince (Hants), Ateeq Javid (Warwicks), Michael Bates (Hants, wkt), Ben Stokes (Durham), Azeem Rafiq (Yorks, capt), Paul Best (Warwicks), David Payne (Gloucs), Nathan Buck (Leics), Matthew Dunn (Surrey).

Omitted: Chris Dent (Gloucs), Danny Briggs (Hants), Jack Manuel (Worcs), Adam Ball (Kent).

Coach: Mark Robinson (Sussex).