Aussie U19s remain ahead despite England fightback

(Main Photo Credit: Brody Grogan Photography)

A late England fightback has left the unofficial ‘U19 Ashes’ clash against Australia finely poised, as Sydney Thunder young gun Joel Davies fell short of a century on day two of their second four-day match in Brisbane.

Starting the day with a 21-run first innings lead and six wickets still in the shed, Australia eked out a strong total thanks largely to a 115-run eighth-wicket stand between Davies (84) and Charlie Anderson (64) at Alan Pettigrew Oval.

The brother of fellow Thunder young gun Ollie Davies, skipper Joel started off his innings in a circumspect manner before accelerating through the gears in the crucial partnership with Anderson, but was caught off the bowling of Tom Aspinwall (3-67) shy of three figures.

Shortly after he departed the Australians lost their final two wickets for just two runs to finish on 346, as day one fifties to Ethan Jamieson and Hugh Weibgen contributed to the solid total.

In response England came out with purpose after being dismissed for just 165 on Monday, and while Aussie opening quick Callum Vidler took the early wicket of Harry Singh for 11 in the eighth over, from there it was all England.

Ben McKinney (69) and skipper Jacob Bethell (69no) combined for a 122-run second-wicket stand to chip away considerably at Australia’s lead.

McKinney followed up his rapid first innings knock of 38 off just 26 balls with a more contained but nevertheless proactive innings, his 69 coming up off 84 balls.

However it was was Vidler (2-40) who again proved the golden arm for Australia, having McKinney caught late in the final session for a fourth scalp of the game after returning the economical first innings figures of 2-19 off 12 overs.

The unbeaten Bethell and James Rew (7no) took England through to 2-167 at stumps just 14 runs in arrears, setting up an intriguing day three.

Australia are looking to square the multi-format series after England last week grabbed a dramatic late win at Allan Border Field.

Australia v England - Under 19 Series

Four-day matches:

Sunday Jan 29 - February Feb 1: Allan Border Oval, Brisbane, 10am local

Monday Feb 6 - Thursday Feb 9: Alan Pettigrew Oval, Brisbane 10am local

50-over matches:

Monday Feb 13: Allan Border Oval, Brisbane, 10am local

Wednesday Feb 15: Allan Border Oval, Brisbane, 10am local

Friday Feb 17: Ian Healy Oval, Brisbane, 9am local

T20 match:

Friday Feb 19: Ian Healy Oval, Brisbane,TBC

Australia Male Under 19 Squad: Harry Dixon (VIC Metro/St Kilda Cricket Club), Liam Blackford (VIC Country/Geelong Cricket Club),  Ethan Jamieson (NSW Metro/University of NSW Cricket Club), Harjas Singh (NSW Metro/Blacktown Mounties Cricket Club), Joel Davies (NSW Metro/Manly Warringah Cricket Club), Hugh Weibgen (QLD Metro/Valley District Cricket Club), Lachlan Aitken (QLD Metro/Gold Coast District Cricket Club), William Salzmann (NSW Metro/Campbelltown Camden District Cricket Club), Tom Balkin (QLD Metro/Toombul District Cricket Club), Mahli Beardman (Western Australia/Melville Cricket Club),  Josh Vernon (Western Australia/Pegs Creek Cricket Club), Charlie Anderson (NSW Metro/Northern District Cricket Club), Tom Straker (NSW Metro/Sutherland District Cricket Club), Luke Holt (Western Australia/Willetton District Cricket Club), Harkirat Bajwa (VIC Country/Melbourne Cricket Club)

England Male Under 19 Squad: Tom Aspinwall (Lancashire), Jacob Bethell (Warwickshire), Joseph Eckland (Unattached), Bertie Foreman (Sussex), Sheridon Gumbs (Surrey), Jack Harding (Unattached), Alex Horton (Glamorgan), Matthew Hurst (Lancashire), Dan Ibrahim (Sussex), Eddie Jack (Hampshire), Dominic Kelly (Hampshire), Mitchell Killeen (Durham), Archie Lenham (Sussex), Stanley McAlindon (Durham), Yousef Majid (Surrey), Ben McKinney (Durham), James Rew (Somerset), Jamal Richards (Essex), Harry Singh (Unattached), Charlie Tear (Sussex), George Thomas (Somerset), Ross Whitfield (Durham)