England On Course for Quarter-Finals After Second Win

Essex team-mates Dan Lawrence and Callum Taylor hit half centuries to set up England’s second consecutive win in the ICC Under-19s World Cup which keeps them on course for the quarter finals.

Lawrence followed his record-breaking 174 in England’s opening win against Fiji with 55 off 56 balls, and Taylor continued the impressive form he showed in the warm-up games by top-scoring with 59 from 67 balls, including three sixes.

Durham’s Jack Burnham (44 off 55 balls), Somerset’s George Bartlett (48 from 62) and Surrey allrounder Sam Curran (39 from 36) also chipped in as England posted 282 for seven in their 50 overs after Brad Taylor had won the toss and chosen to bat.

Curran then fired West Indies into instant trouble in their reply as he took wickets with his second and fourth balls, having Tevin Imlach caught behind and trapping the left-handed captain Shemron Hetmyer plum lbw with full, swinging deliveries.

Gidron Pope counterattacked with 60 off 60 balls with six fours and three sixes, but Lawrence then underlined his all-round value by bowling the left-hander and taking a return catch to dismiss Keacy Carty.

Mason Crane had Shamar Springer snapped up by Burnham at slip with a classic leg break, but Keemo Paul then gave England something more to think about by dominating a sixth-wicket stand of 90.

The return of Lancashire’s Saqib Mahmood killed off the West Indies as he took four wickets, helped by excellent catches by Lawrence at long-off, Brad Taylor at deep mid wicket and especially Bartlett at backward point to dismiss Paul for 65.

Mahmood ended with four for 42, Curran two for 23 from seven overs and Lawrence two for 38 from 10, securing his second man of the match award in as many games.

With Zimbabwe hammering Fiji in today other game in England’s group, they may still need to win their remaining group game against Zimbabwe in Chittagong on Sunday to be sure of their quarter-final place.

Words: Andy Wilson