England Under-19 booked their place in the final by defeating Australia Under-19 in the first semi-final of the ICC Men’s Under-19 ODI Cricket World Cup 2026 at Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. Centuries from the captains of England and Australia dominated a gripping contest. In the end, England captain Thomas Rew’s hundred proved more decisive than Australia skipper Oliver Peake’s valiant effort, as England sealed a narrow 27-run victory.

The match produced high drama, strong leadership, and momentum swings before England finally booked their place in the final.

Rew Steadies England After Early Wickets

England chose to bat first. However, they lost two early wickets and stood at 57 for 2 just after the powerplay. At that point, Rew walked in and took control of the innings.

He played with composure and authority. His knock included 14 fours and one six. Rew focused on building partnerships rather than taking risks.

Rew and Falconer Build Key Partnership

Thomas Rew found strong support from Caleb Falconer. Falconer scored 40 off 53 balls and played an important supporting role.

Together, the pair stitched a crucial 135-run partnership for the fourth wicket. This stand lifted England from a shaky position and put them firmly back in control.

When Naden Cooray dismissed Falconer at the end of the 36th over, England had moved to 195 for 4.

Rew Falls After Leading from the Front

Rew continued to dominate the bowlers after Falconer’s exit. He looked fluent and confident as he pushed England towards a big total.

However, his innings ended in the 43rd over. Steven Hogan ran him out with a sharp direct hit from backward point. Rew had already done the damage by then and set up England for a competitive total of 277.

Australia’s Chase Starts Cautiously

Australia needed 278 to win. Their chase began at a measured pace. Nitesh Samuel played a slow but steady knock at the top. He scored 47 runs off 83 balls. He focused on keeping wickets in hand rather than chasing quick runs.

Peake Anchors the Innings

Samuel added 62 runs for the third wicket with captain Oliver Peake. Peake played the anchor’s role and waited for the right moments to attack.

Samuel fell in the 25th over, beaten by flight and stumped off Ralphie Albert. That dismissal slowed Australia’s progress at the halfway stage.

Wickets Put Australia Under Pressure

Peake stayed at the crease, but wickets kept falling at the other end. Australia slipped from 134 for 5 in the 32nd over to 207 for 8 in the 43rd.

The target began to look out of reach. England tightened the field and applied constant pressure.

Late Assault Brings Australia Back

Peake refused to give up. He found support from Charles Lachmund and launched a dramatic counterattack in the 46th over. Facing Manny Lumsden, Peake smashed 6, 4, 4, 4, 4. He scored 22 runs in the over and dragged Australia back into the contest.

England Shut the Door

The momentum shifted again in the very next over. Sebastian Morgan dismissed Lachmund on the first ball, with Australia still needing 32 runs. With the fall of Oliver Peake on Sebastian Morgan’s third ball of the 48th over, Australia’s chase ended. Australia fell short by 27 runs, and England advanced to the final to be played on 6 February.