ENGLAND has kicked off the 2022/23 Under 19 Ashes Series in style, taking out a dramatic four-day match at Allan Border Field. Both sides were in with a chance of victory on the final day, but quick Dominic Kelly (5-69) spearheaded the tourists to a 24-run win with his fourth innings exploits.

The Aussies headed into stumps on day three with six wickets in hand, requiring 158 runs for victory. Skipper Joel Davies and Liam Blackford were unbeaten at the crease, resuming in the morning but lasting just three overs before Davies was dismissed for his overnight score of 56.

Blackford very nearly went on to become the home side’s hero, peeling off a wonderful 106 before being edged off by Kelly. The in-batter, crucial to Australia’s cause at eight down, stood his ground before umpires confirmed his downfall via Ben McKinney‘s low catch at first slip.

His demise left Josh Vernon and spinner Harkirat Bajwa needing 34 runs to snatch the improbable victory, and it proved as much as a diving Vernon was run out by McKinney after absorbing 79 deliveries at number 10.

Back on day one, England was sent in to bat and compiled a match-high total of 314, with opener Harry Singh (67) and Matty Hurst (55) notching up half-centuries. The tail also wagged as batters eight to 11 yielded 91 runs. Tom Straker (3-58) led Australia’s pursuit of wickets.

In response, the hosts posted 268 after a promising partnership between opener Ethan Jamieson (52) and first drop Harjas Singh (64). The former was fresh off two-for with the ball. Charlie Anderson (53) also played a key hand at number eight, as tweaker Bertie Foreman (4-66) fared well with the ball.

Foreman followed up with the willow too, capping off an aggressive second dig from the visitors with his unbeaten 58. Atop the order, McKinney blasted 12 boundaries en route to 70 off just 45 deliveries as six of the seven Australian bowlers used claimed a wicket. England’s total proved just enough.

The see-sawing match, which had either side in the box seat at different stages, proved an ideal start to the uniquely formatted Ashes series. A second four-day match will get underway on Monday February 6 at Alan Pettigrew Oval, before a trio of one-day games and a single T20 fixture see out the series.

SCORECARD

RESULT: England (314 & 254) def. Australia (268 & 276) by 24 runs.
TOSS: Australia won the toss and elected to bowl.
POTM: Dominic Kelly (England)

ENGLAND 1ST INNINGS (314)
Harry Singh 67 (163), Matty Hurst 55 (66), Danial Ibrahim 43 (56)
Tom Straker 3-58 (14.2), Ethan Jamieson 2-15 (4), Thomas Balkin 2-60 (13)

AUSTRALIA 1ST INNINGS (268)
Harjas Singh 64 (101), Charlie Anderson 53 (61), Ethan Jamieson 52 (76)
Bertie Foreman 4-66 (25), Tom Aspinwall 3-49 (13), Jacob Bethell 2-31 (8)

ENGLAND 2ND INNINGS (254)
Ben McKinney 70 (45), Bertie Foreman 58* (59), Dominic Kelly 32 (84)
Josh Vernon 4-40 (7), Ethan Jamieson 2-12 (2.5), Joel Davies 1-11 (3)

AUSTRALIA 2ND INNINGS (276)
Liam Blackford 106 (136), Joel Davies 56 (62), Lachlan Aitken 41 (60)
Dominic Kelly 5-69 (19), Danial Ibrahim 1-8 (3), Eddie Jack 1-53 (13)

SERIES FIXTURE

FOUR-DAY:

Sunday Jan 29 – February Feb 1  @ Allan Border Oval, Brisbane
Monday Feb 6 – Thursday Feb 9 @ Alan Pettigrew Oval, Brisbane

50-OVER:

Monday Feb 13 @ Allan Border Oval, Brisbane
Wednesday Feb 15 @ Allan Border Oval, Brisbane
Friday Feb 17 @ Ian Healy Oval, Brisbane

T20:

Friday Feb 19: @ Ian Healy Oval, Brisbane