England Overcome Fierce Rivals

Thomas Rew’s century led England to a 27-run victory over Australia and a place in the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2026 final.

The England skipper made 110 from 107 balls to lead his side to 277 for seven in Bulawayo, Caleb Falconer chipped in with a useful 40.

Rew’s opposite number Oliver Peake led the reply but was the last man to fall for exactly 100 as the reigning champions bowed out at the last-four stage.

England will face either India or Afghanistan, who face off on Wednesday, in Friday’s final.

England overcome fierce rivals despite Peake heroics

England elected to bat upon winning the toss but lost Ben Dawkins for a single in the second over.

Joe Moores (25) and Ben Mayes (24) steadied the ship but both fell in quick succession, Moores trapped in front by Aryan Sharma and Mayes clean bowled by Hayden Schiller, to leave the scoreboard reading 60 for three.

Enter Rew and Falconer, who combined for a match-defining 135-run fourth-wicket stand.

Rew was the aggressor, using his feet well against spin and punishing anything loose from the quicks as he struck 14 fours and a six in his captain’s knock, reaching three figures with a single to long-on from a Sharma full toss.

He was run out for 110 to leave England 236 for six but Farhan Ahmed’s useful unbeaten 28 from 26 balls injected some late momentum as Australia, for whom Schiller and Naden Cooray took two wickets apiece, were set 278 to win.

Alex French made the breakthrough in reply, a searing yorker pinning Will Malajczuk (15) in front, while Ralphie Albert claimed the important wicket of Malajczuk’s opening partner Nitesh Samuel for 47, as he was stumped by Rew.

Manny Lumsden (2/55) made a quickfire double breakthrough to further halt the batting side’s momentum and when Sharma subsequently fell to Ahmed for a 23-ball 34, Australia were 180 for six.

But key man Peake remained at the crease and set English nerves racing when he clubbed 22 from the 46th over, bowled by Lumsden, to move to 99 and leave the equation reading 34 needed from 24 balls.

Sebastian Morgan cleaned up Charles Lachmund and though Peake reached a magnificent century later in the same over, he could not quite see his side home as he chipped James Minto to Morgan at point with 2.3 overs remaining.

Scores in brief

Australia v England – Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe

England 277/7 in 50 overs (Thomas Rew 110, Caleb Falconer 40; Hayden Schiller 2/31, Naden Cooray 2/49)

Australia 250 all out in 47.3 overs (Oliver Peake 100, Nitesh Samuel 47; James Minto 2/30, Sebastian Morgan 2/33)

Result: England win by 27 runs