The Young Lions have played extremely well throughout the tournament. They overwhelmed Scotland, Australia with a massive 404-run total and followed that with solid wins over Bangladesh and New Zealand in the Super Sixes. Although they finished second in their group because of a lower net run rate than India. England has shown they have both strong batting and disciplined bowling.
Australia Faces England in U19 Cricket World Cup
Australia’s title defense has been impressive under the leadership of captain Oliver Peake. The defending champions topped their group before defeating South Africa and the West Indies to secure a spot in the semi-finals. Their strong performance show they are determined to become only the third team, after Pakistan in 2004 and 2006, to successfully defend an Under-19 World Cup title.
Key Players to Watch
Hampshire’s Ben Mayes has been nearly unstoppable for England. His tournament-leading run total includes an impressive 191 against Scotland, which is the second-highest individual score in the competition. The number three batsman also scored an unbeaten 77 against Zimbabwe and a solid 53 against New Zealand, making him England’s most dependable run-scorer.
England’s batting strength has been the foundation of their unbeaten run. Australia’s Nitesh Samuel has also been highly productive at the top of the order. The opener has only been out twice in five innings, starting his tournament with unbeaten scores of 77 and 60 against Ireland and Japan. Captain Peake found his form again with an important century against the West Indies, giving Australia multiple batting options.
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