England Under 19 lose World Cup warm-up match

England Under 19 lost by 168 runs in its one-day match against the Australian Cricket Board (ACB) Under 19 in Adelaide today. The game was the team's third warm-up match before the ICC Under 19 World Cup starts later this month in New Zealand.

The Australians won the toss, batted first and scored 331 for eight wickets in their 50 overs. Opening batsmen Jarrad Burke (100) and Craig Simmons (88) laid the cornerstone of their innings with an opening partnership of 153. ACB U19 captain and middle-order batsman, Cameron White, hit a quick-fire 60 off 39 balls. For England Nadeem Malik, Kyle Hogg and Alex Roberts captured two wickets each.

In reply England U19 started well with opening batsmen Kadeer Ali (43) and Mark Pettini (23) putting on 72 for the first wicket. The team, however, was eventually dismissed for 163 in 38.5 overs. Beau Casson, the ACB U19's left-arm chinaman bowler, returned impressive figures of six wickets for 26 runs off 9.5 overs.

England U19 will play one more game against the ACB U19, on Friday 11 January, before leaving for the World Cup in Christchurch, New Zealand, on Sunday 13 January.