CHRISTCHURCH (AFP)
A century from 16-year-old Zimbabwean Brendon Taylor helped end Nepal's fairytale ICC Under-19s World Cup campaign in the final of the Plate Championship on Friday. A clinical performance from Zimbabwe saw them secure victory by 137 runs with Taylor scoring an unbeaten 100, the first century in Christchurch during this competition.

Taylor, who celebrated his 16th birthday on Wednesday, batted the entire 50 overs as Zimbabwe made 247 for 1 on a slow pitch, with Charles Coventry (64) and captain Tatenda Taibu (65), who was later named player of the tournament, both registering half-centuries.

Nepal looked jaded after a hectic week which has seen them in action for the past three days with their rain interrupted semi-final clash against Bangladesh running into Thursday.

Zimbabwe's total was always going to be tough for Nepal, whose weakness throughout the competition has been scoring runs quickly, and they were dismissed for just 110 with more than 15 overs to spare. It was a cruel end to what has been a wonderful tournament for Nepal, who return home having lost just twice in eight matches and beaten two Test playing nations in Pakistan and Bangladesh.

"Winning the toss was crucial and the opening partnership set it up for us," said Zimbabwe coach Steve Rhodes. "They then followed it up with another good spell and we thought our total would be too much for them. I was pleased by the way Taibu read the situation and he nursed a youngster through to his hundred.

"It was a very special innings to get 100 on that wicket no matter who you are playing against. It was an innings that gave us the total we needed to win the match and coming from such a young player makes it all the more pleasing."

Zimbabwe fielded seven black players in the final and Rhodes, the former England wicketkeeper, is hoping Taibu's performances and his team's success will encourage more black schoolchildren to take up the game. "There are some talented players in Zimbabwe both black and white," he said. "To see Tatenda get the player of the tournament award is a credit to him. He is a fine cricketer and he typifies the talent available in Zimbabwe.

"There is not a depth of talent in Zimbabwe and we need to get more youngsters coming through. That is what we have to address next. In the townships the black kids are so keen to learn and pick things up very quickly. There is a lot of talent out there but they need to learn cricketing awareness which must come from the coaching set-up."

Taylor was to quick to thank Taibu, who is Andy Flower's understudy in the senior side and was named in the Zimbabwe squad to tour India next month, for shepherding him to a deserved century. "I found it difficult towards the end of the innings because the ball was keeping pretty low," he said. "I was lucky to have Tatenda with me and he got me through it. He kept supporting me and telling me not to let it slip. I was pretty worried about our scoring rate and if I got my hundred I just thought it would be a bonus."

Despite his team's hammering in the final, Nepal coach Roy Dias was quick to congratulate his side after a memorable tournament. Nepal defeated two Test-playing nations and won six out of their eight matches to become the surprise package of the competition. "Great credit must go to my team for getting this far," said Dias the former Sri Lankan Test batsman. "We don't want to take anything away from Zimbabwe. They were very positive. They batted very well and got off to a great start and we just couldn't match them. It was a pity we lost the toss because it was going to be very difficult to chase on a pitch that was always going to get slower.

"We have an inexperienced side but it's a learning process for them, and this has been a great trip. I have enjoyed working with the team and they have made me very proud. They have a lot of talent and enthusiasm for the game. Before we came out here I thought we could pull a few surprises and it has been a great thrill for the whole of Nepal for us to reach the final. I had faith in my players and they lived up to it."

The final of the main competition takes place on Saturday with Australia meeting South Africa at the Bert Sutcliffe Oval.

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