Wyllie anchors Aussie victory with superb century

Teague Wyllie has continued his hot streak at the U19 World Cup with an unbeaten century against Scotland as Australia romped to a seven-wicket win and securing a vital boost in net run rate.

Allrounder Aidan Cahill also starred with a brutal 72 off 45 balls, having earlier picked up two wickets.

Cahill, one of three players in the Aussie U19 squad from NSW Premier club Northern District, capitalised on some subpar middle overs bowling to swiftly put the game to bed for Australia as they chased down target of 237 with 10.2 overs to spare.

Wyllie has long been touted as a future star of Australian cricket and set up victory with an unflappable 101 not out from 115 deliveries.

Having been in superb touch with the Western Australia second XI and his Premier side Rockingham-Mandurah this season with a mountain of runs, including two centuries, the opener told cricket.com.au before travelling to the Caribbean he prided himself on taking ownership of an innings.

"I love batting and ever since I was a young kid, I've just not liked getting out … every time I go out there, I just try and bat as long as I can," Wyllie said. "My role in one-day cricket is pretty similar to what it is in the longer format; I'm just looking to try and bat through the whole innings and anchor it and be the man there at the end."

He has so far turned that desire into a reality, backing up his 86 not out from game one against the West Indies with today's score bringing his tournament aggregate to 193 in three games.

Australia had made a pair of surprise changes to the XI from their previous fixture against Sri Lanka, with two of their better performing players from the opening matches in Queensland fast bowler Tom Whitney and Tasmania's rookie-contracted ambidextrous spinner Nivethan Radhakrishnan left out.

It paved the way for New South Wales fast bowler Jack Nisbet to make his debut in place of Whitney, who remains Australia's leading wicket taker for the tournament with five scalps, while Corey Miller, another from Northern District, was recalled after playing in game one against the West Indies.

It was the second match in a row for the Australians at Conaree Sports Club in St Kitts, and despite playing on a new pitch, they sent the Scots in, just as Sri Lanka had done to them on Tuesday.

William Salzmann and Nisbet took the new ball but Australia were frustrated by missed chances in the field. Charlie Tear was dropped at first slip by Miller, and Cahill missed what would have been a stunning catch off Oliver Davidson.

Tear, now on 46, was given another chance as skipper Cooper Connolly put down a return catch that he would've expected himself to take.

The breakthrough finally came in the 20th over courtesy of a run out by Salzmann, as Davidson (33) was sent back by his opening partner to end the 88-run partnership.

Tear chopped on for 54 off Isaac Higgins, who had not bowled in the opening two games but the South Australian, who is better known for his skill with the bat, was an inspired choice with his left-arm orthodox.

Tomas Mackintosh's reverse sweeps were a feature as he passed 50 in the 38th over but Sam Elstone (17) fell when he charged at Cahill and could only splice it to mid-off.

Jack Jarvis, fresh from making 55 in Scotland's opening game, was given a life while still yet to score, as this time Garner couldn't hold on to the chance provided.

But the Aussies picked up the big wicket of Mackintosh for 54 as Cahill claimed his second wicket.

Salzmann had his first wicket when Higgins held a second catch on the boundary to dismiss Jarvis (27) and Wyllie then took a brilliant catch in the final over, only needing one hand while running back with the flight of the ball as the Scots finished on 8-236.

Australia stuck with Wyllie and Campbell Kellaway at the top of the innings and the pair reached their 50-run opening stand in the 12th over.

Kellaway in particular picked up where he left off against the Sri Lankans, playing some glorious shots through the offside. The Victorian was given a life on 30 as the keeper fumbled a stumping chance but fell LBW when attempting a reverse sweep to exit for 47.

Cahill was promoted to No.3 and survived three separate LBW appeals in his opening four deliveries, but soon found his range.

Wyllie, who swept a trio of boundaries, made the most of a free hit after Scotland captain Charlie Peet's left-arm orthodox went above Wyllie and the wicketkeeper's head.

The lanky West Australian sent the free hit long over the cow corner fence, moving his score to 67 at the halfway mark in the second innings.

Cahill took over in the next few overs, taking 26 runs off one Jarvis over to bring up a rapid 32-ball half-century with a six, but was eventually bowled by Davidson for 71 having launched seven fours and four sixes.

If Wyllie felt any effects of the proverbial nervous nineties, he didn’t show them and on 94 skipped down the wicket to launch off-spinner Rafay Khan over long-off for six.

The cool-headed youngster was subdued in his celebration, with the team result clearly spurring him on with just a few runs to win, a sign of the strong-willed attitude that has served him so well thus far.

Higgins (5 not out) struck the winning runs as the Aussies reached the target with seven wickets in hand and 61 balls to spare.

Australia boosted their net run rate to +0.096 ahead of Saturday's final Group D game between West Indies and Sri Lanka. A Sri Lanka win will see Australia through to the Super League stage, but if the West Indies triumph Australia's fate will hinge on net run rate.