England 383/7 (Banks 120, Jacks 102) beat Canada 101 (Sisodiya 3/23, Finch 2/10) by 282 runs.
To view the match scorecard click here
By Henry Cowen
England made light work of Canada to round off the group stages of the ICC Under-19 World Cup with another victory and set up a quarter-final with Australia.
Captain Harry Brook lost the toss for the third game in a row – the only thing he’s getting wrong at the minute – and duly watched his side rack up 383/7, a record for England at an Under-19 World Cup.
There were centuries for Warwickshire’s Liam Banks (120), taking advantage of his first opportunity to bat this tournament, and Surrey’s Will Jacks (102).
“Get your heads right, and the rest will follow.”
England U19s batting first in their final group game of the ICC Under-19
cricketworldcup</a>.<br><br>?? <a href="https://t.co/njnydhuzaq">https://t.co/njnydhuzaq</a> <a href="https://t.co/biMGXJB5tU">pic.twitter.com/biMGXJB5tU</a></p>— England Cricket (englandcricket) January 19, 2018
In reply, Canada were bowled out for 101 as Prem Sisodiya, Roman Walker and Adam Finch shared out seven wickets between them.
It was an encouraging return for the trio – all coming into the side for the first time this World Cup – and it demonstrated England’s strength in depth.
There was a reshuffled look to the batting order as well, with Fin Trenouth, Jack Davies and Luke Hollman all elevated to get some time at the crease.
It was Tom Banton and Banks who opened up for England and they continued the trend of getting their side off to a quick start.
Banton raced to 27 before being caught behind but Canada weren’t to celebrate another wicket until a further 27.2 overs had passed for the addition of 186 runs.
Banks and Jacks – moved up to No.3 – reached their centuries comfortably and made Canada work extremely hard under a hot Queenstown sun. The run-rate was always hovering around the seven-runs-an-over mark without either batsman having to put their foot down.
As ever Jacks was classy through the off-side, while Banks also showed a preference for the cover region.
Both fell shortly after reaching their landmarks, Jacks stumped and Banks holing out, and while Somerset’s Fin Trenouth was unable to make his time at the crease pay – despite an early six – there was time for an impressive and inventive half-century from wicketkeeper Davies.
Finch and Walker grabbed two wickets each in the opening 10 overs of Canada’s reply and reduced their opponents to 20/4 as they sought to prove they should be in coach Jon Lewis’ XI for the Australia clash.
Sisodiya, another World Cup debutant keen to impress, was next to strike as the sun began to play its part in slowing down the game – already over as a contest. The left-arm spinner clean-bowled Pranav Sharma to reduce Canada to 54/5.
He bagged his second – caught and bowled – to make it 75/6 approaching the half-way point of Canada’s innings and only the unexpected arrival of a streaker reminded everyone that it wasn’t a net session.
The Glamorgan man made it three when Pieter Pretorius edged behind to Davies and when Faisal Jamkhandi did the same thing off Hollman at the other end – generously walking despite not being given out – England were on the brink.
Hollman bagged his second and England’s final wicket (they only required nine after Canada skipper Arslan Khan was forced to retire hurt) to see them home by 282 runs.
They’ll face Australia in the quarter-finals at the same venue on Tuesday 22 January.
