Harper, Page steer Australia home after bowlers shine

Sam Harper's rapid century and Patrick Page's 104-ball 99 steered Australia Under-19s to a five-wicket win over New Zealand Under-19s in Dubai.

Harper's 103 came off just 84 balls, during which he slammed 12 fours and one six. Chasing 282, he shared a 183-run, third-wicket stand with Page that ensured Australia reached the target with three overs to spare. Page stroked the same number of boundaries as Harper before he was denied a century by Josh Finnie. After Harper fell in the 42nd over with the score at 246, Clint Hinchliffe steered Australia home with an unbeaten 34. Nathan Smith was the pick of New Zealand's bowlers, picking up four of the five Australia wickets that fell.

Earlier, after opting to bat, New Zealand failed to build on Daniel Stanley and Glenn Phillips' solid start. The pair shared an opening stand of 148 before Australia's bowlers, led by offspinner Arjun Nair and pacer Tom O'Donnell (4 for 63), cut through New Zealand's middle and lower order. New Zealand were eventually restricted to 281 for 9 in their 50 overs, as no batsman after Stanley and Phillips managed to make more than 30 runs.