It started with surfers Jordi Watson (Currarong) and Tyler Wright (formerly of Culburra Beach) in the International Surfing Association Under 18 World Championships at Piha.

They were members of the Australian team which won its fifth consecutive Quiksilver junior title, and were also part of the team that took out the Olympic style ISA Aloha Cup.

The pressure was on Australia’s younger generation of cricketers on Saturday when they played Pakistan in the final of the ICC Under 19 World Cup at Bert Sutcliffe Oval, Christchurch.

They were desperate to continue the dominance established by the senior team in the Test and one-day series in Australia.

Unfortunately it was not the start Maddinson was looking for, when Australia was sent in to bat.

He was trapped lbw in the opening over delivered by Fayyaz Butt, and Australia was 3/23 when semi-final hero Mitchell Marsh fell to the same bowler.

The side clawed its way back through Tim Armstrong (37) and Jason Floros (35) in the middle order, before Kane Richardson scored 44 (off 44) and a competitive total of 9/207 was reached.

Pakistan had taken its reply to 69 before the second wicket fell in the 16th over, but there would be no big partnerships.

Used in short bursts by skipper Marsh, NSW speedster Josh Hazlewood took 4/30 in a man of the match performance.

Spinner Luke Doran also played a key role with 3/32, and keeper Tom Triffitt gloved four catches.

This was Australia’s third Under 19 World Cup win, after the inaugural event in 1988 and in 2002 when the final was also at Bert Sutcliffe Oval.

After a night of celebration, the victorious Australians returned home yesterday morning.