Two former Queensland school teammates rose to glory after producing top-notch performances, including a century, to defeat England at the U19 World Cup
Match Report:
ScorecardAussies thrash England to stay unbeaten at U19 World Cup
Australia have powered ever closer towards the semi-finals of the Under-19 World Cup after two Brisbane Grammar School old boys teamed up to spearhead a comprehensive thrashing of England at Kimberley.
At the Diamond Oval in South Africa's old mining centre, captain Hugh Weibgen, with a superb 120, and Callum Vidler, taking four wickets in a quicksilver opening spell, blitzed their young English counterparts with gems of a performance.
The Aussies even beat the thundery weather on Wednesday as they carved out a 110-run win, under the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method, in a rain-reduced affair to maintain their 100 per cent record in the tournament.
It's made Weibgen's side near-certainties to book a semi-final place, as they lead their Super Six group with three wins from three and boast a vastly superior net run-rate of 2.78.
Star of the day was the 19-year-old captain, who's looked so accomplished with the bat all tournament but surpassed himself with what was being touted as the best innings of the event so far.
It would have been a very different story if he hadn't been dropped when on 19.
"That definitely helped," Weibgen said with a smile.
"This innings is probably right up there on my cricketing memories - and to get the win at the end makes it even better."
After losing the toss under threatening skies - the only thing he did wrong all day - Australia were put in and, despite losing Sam Konstas to the fourth ball of the day, Weibgen enjoyed a tremendous second-wicket stand of 105 with opener Harry Dixon, who made his third major contribution (53 off 63 balls) of the tournament.
There were useful contributions down the order from wicketkeeper Ryan Hicks (19), Tom Campbell (13), Oliver Peake (25no) and Raf MacMillan (19no) but Weibgen was firmly in charge, striking 15 boundaries in his masterful 126-ball stay before being bowled by England's key teen, Theo Wylie (4-42).
Australia's total of 6-266 always looked to be 50 runs too many for England on a tricky pitch.
The 18-year-old Vidler, a nifty paceman who's on Brisbane Heat's books and who attended Brisbane Grammar with the captain, soon confirmed that by ripping into England's top-order, taking 4-29 off five overs including the key wicket of hard-hitting skipper Ben McKinney.
"He's a superstar, Cal. He's a great kid, great player. Yeah, I think he'll go very far. It's good seeing him bowl at full flight, great to watch," said Weibgen.
The players had to be brought off for a two-and-a-half hour delay with the threat of rain and thunderstorms in the air and England tottering on 4-60.
When they returned to a match now shortened to 24 overs, England's revised target of 215 left them needing another 155 off 87 balls. It was never on.
Having to go for broke, England just hoiked themselves into a big hole, with MacMillan particularly impressive again with his 3-16 off three overs.
The only worry was making sure they beat the weather to get in their required 20 overs to ensure a result and they were able to do so comfortably, with Campbell (1-19) capturing the last wicket as England tumbled to 104 all out.
Australia's Under 19 World Cup 2024 fixtures
Jan 22: Australia beat Namibia by four wickets
Jan 25: Australia beat Zimbabwe by 225 runs
Jan 28: Australia beat Sri Lanka by six wickets
Jan 31: Australia beat England by 110 runs (DLS)
Feb 2: Australia v West Indies, Kimberley, 7pm AEDT, Prime Video
Feb 6: First semi-final, Benoni, 7pm AEDT, Prime Video
Feb 8: Second semi-final, Benoni, 7pm AEDT, Prime Video
Feb 11: Final, Benoni, 7pm AEDT, Prime Video
Full tournament fixtures can be found here
Australia squad: Lachlan Aitken, Charlie Anderson, Harkirat Bajwa, Mahli Beardman, Tom Campbell, Harry Dixon, Ryan Hicks, Sam Konstas, Rafael MacMillan, Aidan O’Connor, Oliver Peake, Harjas Singh, Tom Straker, Callum Vidler, Hugh Weibgen
Men's U19 World Cup standings
Round 2
Super Six AD
| Team | M | W | L | T | N/R | Ded. | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1
IND
|
4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
|
2
PAK
|
4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
|
3
BAN
|
4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
|
4
IRE
|
4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
|
5
NZ
|
4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
|
6
NEP
|
4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
M: Matches played
W: Wins
L: Losses
T: Ties
N/R: No results
Ded.: Deductions
PTS: Total points
Super Six BC
| Team | M | W | L | T | N/R | Ded. | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
AUS
|
4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7 |
|
2
SA
|
4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
|
3
WI
|
4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
|
4
ENG
|
4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
|
5
SL
|
4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
|
6
ZIM
|
4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
M: Matches played
W: Wins
L: Losses
T: Ties
N/R: No results
Ded.: Deductions
PTS: Total points
Round 1
Group A
| Team | M | W | L | T | N/R | Ded. | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
USA
|
3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
M: Matches played
W: Wins
L: Losses
T: Ties
N/R: No results
Ded.: Deductions
PTS: Total points
Group B
| Team | M | W | L | T | N/R | Ded. | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
SCO
|
3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
M: Matches played
W: Wins
L: Losses
T: Ties
N/R: No results
Ded.: Deductions
PTS: Total points
Group C
| Team | M | W | L | T | N/R | Ded. | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
NAM
|
3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
M: Matches played
W: Wins
L: Losses
T: Ties
N/R: No results
Ded.: Deductions
PTS: Total points
Group D
| Team | M | W | L | T | N/R | Ded. | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
AFG
|
3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
M: Matches played
W: Wins
L: Losses
T: Ties
N/R: No results
Ded.: Deductions
PTS: Total points