Aussie U19s clinch one-wicket win after Davies injury scare

Australia Under 19 captain Joel Davies has shrugged off an injury scare to play a crucial role in his side's nervy one-wicket win over England Under 19s at Allan Border Field. 

Davies was stretchered off and sent for precautionary scans on his neck after colliding with the ground's fence attempting to save a boundary during England's innings, prompting a 15-minute break in the match. 

Thankfully he was cleared to return and his 44 off 69 at No.7 proved defining as Australia only just chased down England's modest 154.

"I went face first into the fence," Davies told cricket.com.au after the match.

"There was no pain at the start, it was just shock to be honest.

"The physio sprinted over and did a few little tests, it was all good, but then I had to get stretchered off which was a little bit humiliating.

"It was all precautionary, I got the scans done and was all good to come back and bat." 

England quick Dominic Kelly snagged three early wickets; bowling Monday's centurion Harry Dixon for four and grabbing the wickets of Liam Blackford (eight) and Harjas Singh (one) shortly after. 

When a triple strike from Danial Ibrahim left Australia teetering at 6-65, the target of 155 looked a long way off for the hosts. 

But Davies, together with Thomas Balkin (32no off 64 balls), showed an abundance of composure as they chipped away at the target with minimal risk-taking and a minimum of fuss. 

With 20 runs required, Davies creamed a pull shot off Tom Aspinwall that only managed to picked out England captain Ben McKinney who took a good catch on the rope, ending the 70-run stand.

After Charlie Anderson (1) and Tom Straker (6) came and went, it was up to last-wicket pair of Balkin and Callum Vidler (0no) to score the remaining four runs to get the Aussies home (main pic).

It was allrounder Balkin who hit the winning runs, squirting a full ball from leg-spinner Archie Lenham through the off-side for a couple.

"It was pretty nerve-wracking, to say the least," Davies said of the final few moments.

"A few of us didn't really know how the tail bats. But it was great that Balkin was able to get us over the line." 

After being smashed by 119 runs in the first 50-over match on Monday, visiting skipper McKinney won the toss and chose to bat first with an eye on emulating Dixon's heroics two days earlier.

Charlie Anderson got Australia off to a sensational start with the ball, capturing three wickets in his first five overs.

They included the dangerous McKinney, caught at mid-on, and allrounder Ibrahim who Anderson caught beautifully off his own bowling with a dive across the pitch.

Allrounder James Coles was the only England batter to pass 25 as he top-scored with an important 54 from 72 balls.

But he was one of Hugh Weibgen's four wickets as the off-spinner ran through the tourists' lower order to finish with 4-21.

With this second one-day victory, Australia have taken a 3-1 lead in the multi-format series, with just one 50-over match (on Friday) and a T20 (on Sunday) still to play.

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