Ireland had a rather uneasy lunch break after losing three quick wickets to start their chase of 121 runs set by the Hebou PNG Garamuts.
Some gutsy bowling from PNG’s James Tau was not enough to get the Garamuts a win, as they lost to Ireland by 3 wickets at the Under 19 Cricket World Cup.
They sure made hard work of it, but Ireland were ultimately successful in chasing PNG's modest total of 121.
Neil Rock top-scored with 43 and it was his 45-run partnership with Graham Kennedy (17*) that steadied the ship and saw Ireland home.
James Tau took 4/45 for PNG off his 10 overs and Sema Kamea chipped in with 2/22 off his full complement.
Ireland will be smiling, although with relief and a few nerves, after making very hard work of the chase down of PNG’s small total.
Ireland’s top scorer Neil proved to be the "Rock" of this Ireland innings, his slow but vitally unbeaten 24 guiding his country ever much closer to PNG's total.
Morgan Topping and Neil Rock played a steadying hand for Ireland in the half hour following lunch.
A stubborn 28-run stand by Rock and Kennedy helped Ireland move ever closer toward victory. They've made hard work of it, but the finish line was surely in sight.
Not even Garamuts bowler, James Tau, could stop the Ireland outfit from reaching the total of 121 with 3 wickets still in hand to record victory in the plate semi-final of the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup.