England U19 captain Thomas Rew scored an innings-rescuing century against Australia in the semi-final of the U19 World Cup today (February 3).
Rew came in after England had lost their third wicket with just 60 runs on the board. Opener Ben Dawkins was dismissed in the second over of the match, edging behind off the fifth ball of Will Byrom's spell, before Joseph Moores was trapped lbw by Aryan Sharma. The second wicket brought Rew to the crease, before Ben Mayes was bowled in the following over by Hayden Schiller.
However, the England captain – already with two unbeaten half-centuries in the competition – looked comfortable from the off. He hit the first four of his innings five balls after Mayes' dismissal, rocking back and heaving a ball from Naden Cooray to the wide long on boundary. His first six came four overs later, again off Cooray, picking another short length ball and pulling it over deep mid-wicket.
Rew and Caleb Falconer put on 71 runs together before Rew reached his 50, getting to the milestone off 46 balls at exactly the innings halfway mark. After that, Rew pressed the accelerator, hitting six fours in the next five overs to quickly move onto 80 off 68 balls and take the partnership with Falconer past the 100 mark. Falconer was out off the final ball of the 36th over for 40 off 53 balls, with Rew nine short of a century. Rew got to his hundred with a single down to long on, off his 97th delivery. It was his second century in a youth ODI, after he hit 131 off 89 balls against India last year.
Rew was run out for 110 off a direct hit from Steven Hogan, having taken his side from 60-3 to 236-5 with eight overs still to bat. England finished their innings on 277-7.
1st Semi-Final, Australia Under-19 vs England Under-19
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Thomas Rew's rise continues with U19 World Cup semi-final hundred
Rew's rise to international attention has been rapid over the last eight months. He starred in England U19s series against India last year, scoring two Test half-centuries in addition to his 50-over ton. He made his T20 debut for Somerset in the T20 Blast, and impressed throughout the One Day Cup.
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He was selected for England Lions for the first time for their tour of Australia over the winter, and was picked to play in England's Ashes warm-up match. During the game, he scored 55 off 41 balls against England's Ashes bowling attack. Following the Lions tour, he earned his maiden SA20 contract as short-term cover for Paarl Royals.
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