Man of the match Jesse Ryder doesn't normally do a lot of bowling but he proved the man for a crisis for New Zealand in its three-run win over England in the Super League round of the ICC Under-19 World Cup today.

Ryder had earlier hit a whirlwind 54 for New Zealand, but was called into the attack in the 43rd over as England looked like knocking off the 206 required to win the game.

However, Ryder and Iain Robertson, Richard Sherlock and Peter Borren bowled outstandingly at the death to have England 202/8 off the last ball of the game, three runs short of their target.

"I wasn't expecting to have to bowl. Our skipper was keeping us motivated and telling us to go hard until the last ball," Ryder said.

"I just wanted to get the ball up there and hoped to bowl to the field.

"I did my little bit for the team," he said.

His 'little bit' earlier included his innings which he analysed as having started a little slowly and he had played 'a few rash shots'.

New Zealand coach Mark Greatbatch admitted his side didn't get enough runs and felt the side had been a little too quick with their decision-making when batting. Their bowling plan had centred on slowing things down.

"England fought hard and got partnerships going. With 90 balls left and only 70 to get, it didn't look good for us but I was pleased with the way the boys fought back.

"These are death matches. You need to keep winning if you want to keep progressing through. If you lose games you have to fight back," he said.

Greatbatch said New Zealand captain Ross Taylor had changed his bowlers well in the last stages and it kept the English batsmen thinking when they saw different bowlers running in.

He wasn't surprised when Taylor threw the ball to Ryder to bowl.

"He's our option when things don't go right, he's got a bit of a Midas touch," he said.

Greatbatch had not sent messages out to the team during the tight finish.

"The reality is they need to learn for themselves. As much as you would like to tell them that is what this tournament is about, learning from these situations," he said.

Greatbatch was also concerned with the number of wides bowled, 15 in total, but said there was a reason because the players had not had a lot of experience with the white ball.

"They are still very young in that area, they are getting a bit better but the wides could have hurt us today," he said.

England coach Paul Farbrace said it was a strange thing after the team had not played well during the earlier stages of the tournament, they had played very well today and were that close to winning the game.

"You have to say that they [New Zealand] bowled well at the end and credit to them.

"It was a close game. It was pretty similar for both teams throughout," he said.

Both sides had lost wickets are regular intervals. It was difficult to praise a side after it had lost but he said considering the way England had played in this game it had been a phenomenal effort.

"I still don't think we are out of it," he said.

He was delighted with the way Mark Pettini batted, it was his first game of the tournament, and felt that the promotion of Samit Patel had been worthwhile and after the start he had he should have been able to go on and get 75 or 80 that could have won the game.

"He's a young man and will learn from this. He is eligible to play in the next (Under-19) World Cup and will learn. That is what it is all about," he said.

© CricInfo