England Under 19s thrash Bangladesh at the World Cup

An unbeaten hundred from Harry Brook secured a comprehensive seven-wicket win over Bangladesh and all-but confirmed England’s qualification for the ICC Under-19 World Cup quarter-finals.

 

Barring a very heavy defeat to Canada on Saturday, England will progress as group winners with the runners-up in Group B (most likely India or Australia) awaiting in the last eight.

 

As well as Brook’s classy hundred, his side’s victory owed much to Ethan Bamber and Euan Woods. Bamber’s three early scalps set the wheels in motion while Woods took three crucial wickets and ended on 49 not out after putting on 128 alongside Brook.

 

England started full of intent after losing the toss and being asked to field, rushing out of the blocks to take four early wickets and reducing Bangladesh to 27/4.

 

The first wicket went to Worcestershire’s Dillon Pennington, trapping Pinak Ghosh in front in his first over and from there it was the Ethan Bamber show.

 

The Middlesex seamer bustled in to take three wickets across his next four overs, finding a perfect length and just enough assistance from the pitch to nip it around and cause Bangladesh problems.

 

First to go was the Tigers’ skipper Saif Hassan, caught mid-off attempting a big shot, before Md Naim Sheikh edged behind to wicketkeeper Jack Davies and Tawhid Hridoy was trapped lbw.

 

It was a blistering start from England’s openers and their tails were up but Bangladesh rallied after the openers were removed from the attack.

Aminul Islam and Afif Hossain began to frustrate England, and the energy and vigour they showed in the early overs was beginning to seep away.

 

Just as the momentum began to shift to Bangladesh, Woods – replacing Liam Banks in the side because of his what his bowling could offer on a used pitch – instigated a mini-collapse which saw three wickets fall in seven balls.

 

Firstly the Surrey man induced an edge from Islam – taken behind the stumps by Berkshire teammate Jack Davies – before he clean-bowled Hossain. Pennington then ran out Nayeem Hasan to firmly turn the game back in England’s favour.

 

Woods wasn’t done yet, bowling Qazi Onik for 1 to leave Bangladesh 135/8 before Tom Scriven and Luke Hollman chipped in to take a wicket apiece and finish off the innings.

 

England will have been delighted with their efforts in the field. Their strong start up front was in danger of drifting before the introduction of

Woods and they’ll be heartened to have fronted up with the seamers and the pace-off-the-ball options.

 

Chasing 176 to win, England lost Tom Banton and Savin Perera early. Banton was unlucky to be caught down the leg-side for 9 while Perera was taken at mid-on for 7.

 

Brook and Will Jacks were together at this point, neither of whom had been dismissed in New Zealand since arriving at the World Cup, but after one lovely drive through the covers off off-spinner Nayeem Hasan, Jacks was caught at point for 8.

 

As has been the case across England’s two matches Brook looked in fine touch. Despite the situation – and the importance of his wicket – he was happy to attack, hitting two sumptuous boundaries in successive deliveries from one Hasan over, including one wristy straight six.

 

Woods backed up his skipper and added some important runs to his earlier crucial wickets as England marched towards victory.

 

As Brook and Jacks had done during Monday’s victory against Namibia, they put their foot down with the finish line in sight to pepper the boundaries and finish things off at a canter. That acceleration enabled Brook to reach three figures, reaching his landmark with the winning runs, much to the delight of his teammates.

 

It was an innings of some class from the skipper who looked untroubled throughout his stay, finding the gaps with ease and calming England down when a nervy chase could have been on the cards.

 

It was fitting that Woods was there at the end alongside the peerless Brook.

 

Out of the Under-19 team for the last 12 months the Surrey left-hander had hit form in Australian club cricket before being called up to replace the injured Tom Lammonby. His all-round contribution today took his side to victory and more than repaid the faith of the coaches.