BERKSHIRE wicketkeeper-batsman Jack Davies was left high and dry as a hideous batting collapse resulted in England Under 19s being knocked out of the World Cup following a 32-run defeat to Australia in a low-scoring thriller on Tuesday.
Ethan Bamber – who also represented Berkshire last summer – had given England a dream start in their quarter final, claiming 3-31 in eight overs as Australia were reduced to 86-7 before Euan Woods (1-6 off 3.3) also chipped in to dismiss their opponents for 128.
England raced to 47-0 in reply, but the introduction of leg-spinner Lloyd Pope turned the game on its head.
He took record-breaking figures of 8-35 as England collapsed to 96 all out, Davies – batting at seven – remaining unbeaten on 11.
Woods was bowled by off spinner Param Uppal for eight, while former Berkshire colt Tom Scriven was run out for a duck following a mis-communication with Davies.
Bamber (two) was the ninth wicket to fall, with Pope wrapping the game up by dismissing Dillon Pennington three balls later.
England’s Berkshire stars had played a key role in guiding their side to the last eight, with Woods (3-26 off 10 overs and 48no) particularly impressive in their seven-wicket win against Bangladesh (175) last Thursday.
Bamber claimed 3-19 from six overs and Scriven took 1-29, while Henley youngster Davies claimed two smart catches and did not concede a bye – a record he has kept throughout the tournament.
The 17-year-old Wellington College student also showed his batting prowess against Canada (101) by blasting 57 from 36 balls as England (383-7) completed the group stage with a thumping 282-run win.
They will play two more games to determine their final finishing position, which will be between fifth and eighth.
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