England’s Under-19s squared the Royal London One-Day Series against Graeme Hicks's Australian Under-19 side with a breathless four-wicket win at New Road secured by a Brad Taylor boundary with two balls to spare.
Dan Lawrence of Essex did the bulk of the work as England chased an imposing Australia total of 294 by hitting his second century of the series which ended 2-2.
He received excellent support from the Durham pair of Adam Hickey and Jack Burnham who made 43 and 53 respectively in partnerships of 104 and 101.
But England needed to hold their nerve after losing Lawrence for 106 from 129 balls, and their captain Aneurin Donald rose to the occasion with 38 from 31 balls.
Even then his dismissal in the 48th over left England needing six off the last, and although Lawrence’s Essex team-mate Callum Taylor carved the first through the slips for four, he then fell for an important 29 from 20 balls to put the pressure on his namesake Brad.
But the Hampshire offspinner, who has been England’s most consistent bowler through the series and was again the pick of the attack here, hit his second ball to the boundary.
Earlier Caleb Jewell had made 106 and shared an opening stand of 196 with Jordan Gauci after England chose to field first on a humid day.
But they fought back well in the later overs with Kent’s Hugh Bernard taking three wickets for the second time in the series, and Burnham picking up a wonderfully nonchalant catch on the boundary.
