KEY POINTS
- Captain Thomas Rew’s 110 runs anchored England’s total of 277/7.
- Australian captain Oliver Peake’s fighting century (100) was not enough.
- England’s bowlers applied consistent pressure, with regular wickets halting Australia’s chase.
BULAWAYO, Zimbabwe: A match-defining century from skipper Thomas Rew propelled England to a hard-fought 27-run victory over Australia in the first semi-final of the ICC Men’s Under-19 Cricket World Cup on Tuesday.
With this win, England has secured its place in the tournament’s grand finale on Friday.
Chasing a competitive target of 278, Australia was bowled out for 250 in the 48th over, despite a gallant hundred from their own captain, Oliver Peake.
The victory was built on the foundation of Rew’s brilliant 110 runs off 107 balls, an innings that rescued England from a precarious position and earned him the Player of the Match accolade.
Rew anchors England’s competitive total
Winning the toss and electing to bat, England found themselves in early trouble at 60 for 3.
However, skipper Thomas Rew played a magnificent innings, holding the middle order together with a composed 110 runs off 107 deliveries, an effort that earned him the Player of the Match award.
He found able support from Caleb Falconer (40) and a late flourish from Farhan Ahmed (28*), guiding England to a defendable total of 277 for 7 in their allotted 50 overs.
For Australia, Hayden Schiller and Naden Cooray were the pick of the bowlers, claiming two wickets apiece.
Peake’s valiant century in vain as Australia Falter
In reply, Australia’s chase was built around a superb captain’s knock from Oliver Peake, who fought valiantly for a 88-ball 100.
However, he lacked consistent partnerships as England’s bowlers struck at regular intervals.
After a steady start, Australia lost wickets through the middle overs, with England’s spin duo of Ralphie Albert (2/45) and Farhan Ahmed (1/45) applying significant pressure.
Despite Peake’s heroic effort, the Australian innings eventually folded for 250 in the 48th over, falling 28 runs short.
Sebastian Morgan and James Minto also contributed crucial breakthroughs for the English attack.
Final berth secured
The victory marks a significant achievement for the England Under-19 side, showcasing resilience after early setbacks with both bat and ball.
Their comprehensive team performance, led by Rew’s commanding century, outshone the individual brilliance of Australia’s Peake.
England now awaits the winner of the second semi-final to be played tomorrow between India and Afghanistan, eyeing the coveted Under-19 World Cup trophy on Friday.
