Hollioake blows hot

England U-19s 199 New Zealand U-19s 228-7 New Zealand won by 29 runs

ENGLAND'S well-established under-19s system has a good record in producing Test cricketers. Half of those likely to be picked for Lord's on Thursday are graduates, among them the captain, Michael Atherton, and the present crop is likely to yield more, although they let themselves down here yesterday.

Having bowled and fielded well against their New Zealand counterparts, they batted abysmally, turning what had appeared a modest total by the Kiwis into one that beat the home side's by 29 runs. It means that that the two-match limited overs series is shared. There are three "Tests" to come, starting at Old Trafford on Thursday week.

New Zealand won in Australia earlier in the year - an indication of their quality - but England, having prevailed by two wickets at Chester- le-Street on Thursday, will have fancied themselves to take the upper hand before the Tests after limiting their opponents to 228 in 50 overs. New Zealand were not able to come up with a single innings of more than 32, although five batsmen made 20 or more.

As on Thursday, the outstanding influence on England's progress at this stage was Ben Hollioake, the 18-year-old Surrey all-rounder who has already performed with success alongside his 24-year-old brother, Adam. Hollioake the younger claimed two wickets as well as bringing off an impressive run-out, dismissing both New Zealand openers with his brisk medium pace - claiming his first breakthrough when Matthew Walker chopped on, then hitting Matthew Bell's middle stump with a ball that cut back to a surprising degree.

James Ormond, of Leicestershire, looked a useful pace prospect and the Yorkshire off-spinner Gareth Batty dismissed Craig McMillan and Neal Parlane with consecutive balls. But, against some fine slow bowling, in which the 17-year-old left-armer Daniel Vettori took three for 40, England seemed unlikely to reach their target. They stumbled to 87 for five, undermined by poor strokes from the upper-order batsmen who were spared greater embarrassment by Batty and Ormond's late runs.