Teenage Hampshire prospect Tom Prest bowled England Under-19s to a 48–run win over Sri Lanka in the final Youth International in Colombo, rightly being named Man of the Match after celebrating a career-best 6-41 return.
Like the majority of his England team-mates, the 18-year old Wimborne youngster found it difficult to impress with the bat in spin friendly conditions at the SSC Test ground and bagged his second duck in five ODIs, making only 44 runs in the five-match series.
But when England defended 215-8, Prest came into his own with the ball, taking a wicket with his very first ball as he opened the Young Lions’ attack.
England, beaten 3-2 in the five-match rubber, continued to take wickets at regular intervals, Prest clean bowling three of his last four victims, alongside getting two leg before verdicts and having another batsman caught. Sri Lanka fell to 166 all out, Prest grabbing the last four wickets.
Prest, who took 2-36 when England won the opening match of the series, will now return to Hampshire’s winter training at the Ageas Bowl before packing his bags for the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup in January, where he is expected to captain the England side.
England have been paired against defending champions Bangladesh, Canada and the UAE in the qualifying rounds, with all three matches to be played at Warner Park in St Kitts, starting on January 16. If England finish first or second in the group, they will progress to the Super Eight competition in Antigua.
Like the majority of his England team-mates, the 18-year old Wimborne youngster found it difficult to impress with the bat in spin friendly conditions at the SSC Test ground and bagged his second duck in five ODIs, making only 44 runs in the five-match series.
But when England defended 215-8, Prest came into his own with the ball, taking a wicket with his very first ball as he opened the Young Lions’ attack.
England, beaten 3-2 in the five-match rubber, continued to take wickets at regular intervals, Prest clean bowling three of his last four victims, alongside getting two leg before verdicts and having another batsman caught. Sri Lanka fell to 166 all out, Prest grabbing the last four wickets.
Prest, who took 2-36 when England won the opening match of the series, will now return to Hampshire’s winter training at the Ageas Bowl before packing his bags for the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup in January, where he is expected to captain the England side.
England have been paired against defending champions Bangladesh, Canada and the UAE in the qualifying rounds, with all three matches to be played at Warner Park in St Kitts, starting on January 16. If England finish first or second in the group, they will progress to the Super Eight competition in Antigua.
