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Jewell ton not enough for Aussie U19s

Series ends 2-2 after England claim close final match in Worcester

Another century full of promise from Caleb Jewell was not enough to lift Australia’s Under-19s to victory in their final one-dayer against England overnight, as the hosts secured a four-wicket win to square the series.

With series honours split between the teams, Australia coach Graeme Hick provided a positive report card for his squad as they prepared to fly home.

Jewell’s 106 from 118 balls set up a 50-over total of 6-294 on a good batting pitch at New Road, Worcester, with Jordan Gauci adding 93 to the century he scored in the four-day match at the start of the month.

England’s batsmen bounced back well, after being skittled for 99 in the third game of the series in Leicester, with Dan Lawrence of Essex hitting his second century of the series as they won an exciting game by four wickets with two balls to spare.

That left the one-day series level at 2-2 after the four-day game had been drawn, and Hick said: “I feel we’ve had the upper hand through the series but I don’t think there’s much between the two sides.

“The guys are a bit disappointed losing the last game but they will take a lot from this experience.

“It’s all about developing players, and we’ve got a guy today who’s scored a hundred, and another chap opening for the first time in a one-day game who’s got 90-odd. At this age group there’s always something positive.

“I think we needed another wicket or two about 10 overs out and then we might have been able to scrape home. England have got a couple of good strikers in there and they came off today.”

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Former England chairman of selectors David Graveney joins skipper Aneurin Donald and Jake Doran 

Jewell, a left-hander from Tasmania, again showed his ball-striking ability to end the one-day series with 255 runs at an average of over 60, after grafting to a five-hour century in the second innings of the four-day match.

He will now link up in his hometown Hobart with Jake Doran, who has also had an impressive tour as a batsman and captain.

“He’s a lovely kid.,” said Hick of Doran, who signed a long-term deal to move to Tasmania from New South Wales earlier this year.

“He ticks all the boxes that you’d want as a coach, approaches his game very professionally, you talk to him and you can see him trying to put things into his game. He’s always asking different things, about his captaincy or whatever, to better himself.

“He’s made a big move down to Tasmania to get some opportunity and it’s one of those things you hope goes well for him. Whether it’s this year or next year I’m sure we will hear a lot more from him.

“He’s had a really good series. I can tell from having seen him this last year or so how his batting’s matured.

“He’s a lot more relaxed early in his innings, he’s playing shots he wouldn’t have done a year ago, that’s just a maturity and a confidence thing.”