Australia vs England, U19 World Cup 2026 Semi-Final Highlights: Captain Thomas Rew Slams Ton As England Beat Australia To Reach Final

We are back with the chase. Australia Under-19 openers Will Malajczuk and Nitesh Samuel have walked out in the middle. Sebastian Morgan will be bowling the first over of this run chase for England Under-19.

... The Run Chase ...

Looking ahead - 235 and 253 have not been chased in the last couple of games here in Bulawayo. However, one game earlier, Sri Lanka successfully hunted down 262 against South Africa. Batting has tended to become more difficult as the day progresses at this venue, with inconsistent bounce and increasing assistance for the spinners making life tough for the batters. It is all set up for an intriguing chase with a place in the final on the line. Back in a bit for the chase.

A quick chat - England's Caleb Falconer thinks the total is pretty good, with enough in the pitch for England's bowlers. He believes that if they stay disciplined and execute well, they can get the job done. Falconer explains his role in the partnership with Thomas Rew, saying that his role was to keep Rew on strike and support him while he plays the big shots. He thinks the key for the bowlers is to keep it simple, hit the top of the stumps, bowl in the right areas, and keep all modes of dismissal in play.

Middle phase rebuild - The rebuild came through a 135-run stand between Caleb Falconer and skipper Thomas Rew. Unlike the game against New Zealand, where the English innings meandered through the middle phase, this time there was a healthier tempo. The boundaries flowed freely off the bat of Rew, who went on to reach his century in 97 balls. Rew’s departure proved to be the catalyst for Australia to pull things back as the English lower order found the spinners tough to get away.

A cagey start - Charles Lachmund and William Byrom were able to get the ball to swing early on, but the movement was inconsistent. Ben Dawkins fell early, while his namesake Ben Mayes and Joe Moores negotiated the opening burst from the Australian quicks. However, neither was able to convert their start into a substantial contribution, and England soon found themselves reduced to 60/3.

England Under-19 finish with 277! Australia will be pleased with how the final phase unfolded for them. At one stage, England looked set to push towards 300, but just 40 runs came from the last 7 overs, keeping them under 280. 277 is still a formidable total, though.

Leg bye! On a good length, tailing on the pads. Ahmed fails to flick and it rolls off the pads to point for a leg bye. England Under-19 end with 277 on the board in the Semi-Finals.

FOUR! Crucial runs! A yorker, wide outside off, Farhan Ahmed bends, opens the face of the bat and guides it in the gap, between short third and backward point for a boundary.

Short of a length, around off, Minto tries to paddle scoop it over but gets in a tangle. The ball rolls around the corner and they sneak in a run.

The off-cutter, speared it wide outside off on the fuller side. Minto throws his blade at it and misses.

Tad short, around off, Ahmed pulls it to deep mid-wicket for one more.

Into the surface, back of a length on off, Farhan Ahmed pulls it across, off the slice and to deep mid-wicket for a brace. Falls well short of the fielder there.

Time for the final over. William Byrom will close out the innings. 6-0-35-1 so far for Bryom.

Farhan Ahmed keeps the strike. Yorker, slower one onto the batter. Ahmed clips it to mid-wicket for a single to end the over.

A full toss, dipping across the batter, this is punched to cover for a single.

Short of a good length, outside off, another slower delivery. James Minto looks to cut it away but misses.

Out goes Sebastian Morgan and in walks James Minto.

OUT! TAKEN! The slower ball does the trick again. Back of the hand, fuller and on off, Morgan is way too early as he tries to slog it away. He top edges it right up over his head. The keeper, Alex Lee Young, calls for it and pouches it safely.

Well bowled! Morgan attempts to play the reverse paddle and Hayden Schiller bowls a slower, dipping fuller delivery down leg. Morgan fails to hit it cleanly and toe ends it back to the bowler.