Kellaway’s promotion pays off despite Sri Lanka defeat

Campbell Kellaway's half-century in Australia's Under-19 World Cup loss to Sri Lanka was a rare positive from a tough encounter for the Aussie junior side, with the 19-year-old hoping it can kick-start a strong campaign.

Kellaway batted at number six in the first up win over the West Indies but was promoted to the top of the order after the Aussies reshuffled their side to add an extra seamer on a bouncy pitch at Conaree Sports Club in St Kitts.

It is a familiar position for the Melbourne Cricket Club opener, who is currently averaging 57 with his Premier side this season, saying while he kept an open mind about where he was named in the batting order, he has always loved opening.

"I like opening,” he said.

"I try to pride myself on being able to bat anywhere in the top six and play a role in the team that they require of you.

"It's always nice to get a gig up the top, or somewhere in the top three, and try to construct an innings and to be there in the 45th over. Hopefully you've got a few runs on the board for the team by that stage."

The Victorian was rapt to hear the news of his move up the order from coach Anthony Clark, with the move paying off as Kellaway top-scored for the Aussies with 54 from 77 deliveries, striking five boundaries and one massive six straight back over the bowler's head.

"I got told by the coach yesterday I was going to have a crack up the top which was good news," Kellaway said.

"I felt pretty good out there, I just try to watch the ball as close as I can and keep it pretty simple.

"It was definitely good to get a few runs on the board early in the tournament and I guess it's a small confidence booster you can take into later games.

"I'd love to keep having a crack at the top and try get as many runs as I can for the boys."

Batting was tough early as Sri Lanka's bowlers, particularly their plethora of spinners, restricting scoring in the opening overs.

But after working his way into an innings, Kellaway began playing with the freedom and flair that saw him selected in the Aussie squad, using his height to produce some stunning back foot shots.

Kellaway said he and the side had been a little surprised by the pace and bounce off the pitches they had played on so far, and that conditions in the Caribbean reminded him off those he is used to at home.

"I could tell after a few overs it felt like quite a good batting wicket – the ball was coming on pretty nicely onto the bat and there was good pace off the wicket," he said.

"It wasn't quite as much of a sub-continental wicket like we've been training for and what we've been expecting, and there was a little bit more of home conditions that came into it.

Kellaway said they had to be ready for a range of surfaces in the West Indies.

"As a batting unit we've just got to be prepared to play on whatever wicket we're given, whether it's got a bit more juice in it in the morning when it's a bit more humid and a bit more bowler friendly then we've got to get through that. Or if it's a bit drier and a bit more spin friendly then we've got to find ways to negate that and post some good totals on the board."

After making just 175, the Aussies never had enough runs on the board to worry the Sri Lankan batters in their run chase, with Kellaway and Tasmanian all-rounder Nivethan Radhakrisnan's middle-order partnership of 46 the only real time the Australian's took on their opposition with the bat. 

While disappointed with the loss – one that sees their path to the Super League stage of the tournament made tougher – Kellaway was optimistic about his side's chances.

"It wasn't ideal, it would've been nice to get our second win and make it two (wins) and zero (losses)," he said.

"Probably just a little bit of a frustrating day, and a few crucial moments didn’t go our way…we were probably just one or two wickets away from making it a really tight contest."

Australia will have to dust themselves off quickly, with their final group match over Scotland to be played on Thursday morning at the same venue as their loss to Sri Lanka.

Victory is a must to advance to the Super League, when the competition splits into two groups of eight.

But the final group match between Sri Lanka and the hosts is also set to be a determining factor.

"The first thing to focus on is obviously getting a win against Scotland, so that's the first thing to worry about and make sure we secure a win there," he said. 

"Depending on how results go hopefully we should be going into the side of the pool that we're aiming to head towards later on in the tournament.

"We can only control what we can control at the end of the day, so that'll be the first port of call just to get the points against Scotland and then whatever happens, happens.

"There might be a bit of checking phones or staff checking phones throughout the day just to give us an update here and there."

An Australian win and a Sri Lanka victory over the West Indies would see Australia finish second in their group and go on to the Super League.

However should the hosts triumph, progression will come down to run-rate.

Australia’s match against Scotland begins at 12am on Thursday (AEDT) and can be streamed via the ICC.tv app.