JOEY FIELD was at the business end of a thriller overnight as New Zealand Under 19 closed out a nailbiting U19 Cricket World Cup game with just one ball to spare.

The exciting result against Sri Lanka moved NZU19 into second spot on the Group A table ahead of a final clash against defending Under 19 Cricket World Cup champions India, with the top two sides to go through to the Super League.

India is two from two in South Africa but if NZU19 should beat them in two days' time, not only will NZ go through, we'll qualify top of the Group.

NZU19 and Sri Lanka U19 had both headed into last night's big contest at Bloemfontein looking for their first win the Group phase, after rain had ruined NZ's first-up game against Japan.

Chasing 243, New Zealand were looking good against an impressive Sri Lankan attack.

However, a sudden flurry of four wickets in the space of seven balls had New Zealand nerves jangling at the death.

In the 48th, Dilshan Madushanka had removed captain Jesse Tashkoff, then Simon Keene was run out almost immediately.

Two more wickets fell in the space of two deliveries in the 49th, bowled by Thilakaratne: Paranavithana running out man of the match Beckham Wheeler-Greenall before Quinn Sunde was caught next ball.

JOEY FIELD celebrates Kristian Clarke's clutch six | PHOTOSPORT

It left New Zealand seven down and needing 14 off eight balls, Joey Field fresh in and scrambling a two first ball, before Thilakaratne dotted down to make the New Zealand equation 12 required off the last over.

Madushanka kept the pressure on, conceding just singles and twos off his first four deliveries - to leave Kristian Clarke on strike and needing to find the boundary, with just two balls left.

Clarke pelted the penultimate ball for six, sparking a player pile-up on field reminiscent of when a young Ish Sodhi, needing four from the last ball, hit the winning boundary for the NZ U19 World Cup side of 2018 (captained by WILL YOUNG) as they knocked out the West Indies.

SCORES

   Group A Standings after two rounds:

   1. India - 4 points

   2. New Zealand - 3 points

   3. Japan - 1 point

   4. Sri Lanka - 0 points

Article added: Thursday 23 January 2020