Victorian pair blast England bowlers for huge U19s win

An onslaught from Victoria duo Liam Blackford and Harry Dixon has guided Australia's Under-19s to a dominant victory in their sole T20 match against England to round out their multi-format series.

The pair opened the batting together and couldn’t be removed, passing the target of 159 in the 18th over as both struck unbeaten half-centuries.

Dixon's 84 came off just 56 deliveries and backed up his 148 from 125 balls in Monday's opening one-day game.

The left-hander blasted three sixes to go with five fours, reaffirming his status as one of the country's emerging power hitters.

Blackford, who very nearly dragged his side over the line with a century in the first four-day game almost three weeks ago, proved his adaptability with a classy 72 not out.

He cleared the rope twice, while also hitting seven fours, as the pair made light work of the England bowling unit.

The 10-wicket win sees Australia claim the series 4-2, dominating the white-ball leg of the campaign 3-1.

They had earlier looked set to be chasing far greater than the 159 they would reach with ease, after England made their way to 1-68 in the seventh over.

However, after Tom Straker removed opener George Thomas for 39 off 28 balls, leg-spinner Luke Holt came in and snared two quick wickets to give the home side the momentum.

None of the England batters could get going from here, with Will Salzmann also taking two wickets as the Aussies restricted their opposition well in the second half of the innings.

And from then it was all the Dixon-Blackford show, allowing their teammates to earn a premature end to a hard-fought junior series.

England's nail-biting win in the first red-ball game in late January set up what was a thrilling contest back and forth battle between the two sides, as multiple players showed their class throughout.

Australia will now travel to England for a similar series later in the year, as a younger and new look squad shifts their focus to the 2024 Under-19 World Cup.

Main image credit: Brody Grogan Photography

Australia v England Under 19 Men 2023

First four-day match: England U19s won by 24 runs

Second four-day match: Australia U19s won by seven wickets

First 50-over match: Australia U19s won by 119 runs

Second 50-over match: Australia U19s won by one wicket

Third 50-over match: England U19s won by 41 runs

Only T20 match: Australia U19s won by 10 wickets