New Zealand secure place in Under 19 World Cup play-offs

Home team New Zealand secured a quarter-final spot in the ICC Under 19 Cricket World Cup Tuesday with an easy seven wicket win over Zimbabwe at Lincoln, near Christchurch.

They will join defending champions India, England, Australia, South Africa and Sri Lanka, who have clinched places in the quarter-finals to be played over the weekend. In group D, Bangladesh, Pakistan and the West Indies are vying for the two remaining qualifying spots.

New Zealand needed to chase down just 136 to win in 25 overs on Tuesday, after running through the Zimbabwe batting line-up in 42.2 overs in their group C match. New Zealand opener Tom Latham hit an unbeaten 57 to lead his country home.

AFP