After Australia’s Ashes triumph, the country’s top teenage cricketers will seek to emulate their seniors by defeating England in the U19 World Cup semi-final
Australia’s teenage world cricket champions have been tasked with a ‘junior Ashes’ semi-final showdown at the Under-19 World Cup against England in Zimbabwe.
The battle between two unbeaten sides is set for Bulawayo on Tuesday after the last-four line-up was sealed with India’s triumph over Pakistan by 58 runs in the final Super Six stage match at the same venue on Sunday.
India, with 14-year-old IPL sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in their ranks, will play Afghanistan in the other semi in the capital Harare on Wednesday.
Australia’s young class of ’26 are defending the title won by their skipper Ollie Peake and his colleagues in South Africa two years ago, including new T20 international Mahli Beardman.
So far, they’ve come through all five of their matches with impressive wins in Namibia and Zimbabwe against Ireland, Japan, Sri Lanka, South Africa and West Indies.
Melbourne Renegades’ BBL breakout star Peake made a century in their last Super Six stage win over the Windies in Harare, while his teammates Steven Hogan and Will Malajczuk also reached three figures earlier in the tournament in Windhoek.
Exciting 18-year-old left-hander Malajcuk’s 51-ball ton against Japan was the quickest in the tournament’s history.
If anything, though, their batters have been overshadowed by the exploits of their four quick bowlers, already nicknamed the ‘Fearsome Foursome’ – Charles Lachmund, Will Byrom, Hayden Schiller and Kasey Barton, who’ve blitzed 30 wickets between them.
England’s progress has been just as impressive, as they’ve also won their five matches and can boast both the tournament’s leading run-scorer and top wicket-taker.
The 18-year-old Hampshire batter Ben Mayes has amassed 352 runs at an average of 93.75, with over half those runs coming in one monumental knock of 191 against Scotland in Harare.
Seamer Manny Lumsden, another hot Hampshire prospect, has been their star with the ball, taking 5-17 in their last outing against New Zealand to make it 13 scalps in all.
That performance came at Bulawayo where the English boys have played twice, which could give them an advantage over Peake and his team, who’ll be playing there for the first time in the tournament.
Australia’s U19 World Cup fixtures
Jan 16: Australia beat Ireland by 8 wickets
Jan 20: Australia beat Japan by 8 wickets
Jan 23: Australia beat Sri Lanka by 9 wickets
Super Sixes, Jan 25: Australia beat South Africa by 6 wickets
Super Sixes, Jan 28: Australia beat West Indies by 22 runs
First semi-final, Feb 3: Australia v England, Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo
Second semi-final, Feb 4: India v Afghanistan, Harare Sports Club, Harare
Feb 6: Final, Harare Sports Club, Harare
Australia squad: Oliver Peake (c, VIC), Kasey Barton (NSW), William Byrom (NSW), Naden Cooray (NSW), Jayden Draper (QLD), Steven Hogan (QLD), Thomas Hogan (ACT), Ben Gordon (QLD), John James (NSW), Charles Lachmund (QLD), Alex Lee-Young (NSW), Will Malajczuk (WA), Nitesh Samuel (NSW), Hayden Schiller (SA), Aryan Sharma (VIC)
All matches start 6:30pm AEDT, and broadcast exclusively live on Prime Video
