Under-19s suffer loss

15 April 2008

James Lee © Getty Images

Four wickets for Yorkshire seamer James Lee could not prevent England Under-19 from slipping to a five-wicket defeat to Middlesex Second XI at Radlett.

In the first of three 50-over encounters between the teams, England posted 195 for eight as Warwickshire’s Chris Woakes top-scored with a rapid 41 not out.

Middlesex reached their target with 12.1 overs to spare thanks to a second-wicket stand of 162 between Ireland international Eoin Morgan (96) and opener Dawid Malan (63).

Lee took the new ball and finished with figures of 7-2-24-4, but opening partner Stuart Meaker of Surrey was the only other wicket-taker, removing Morgan just short of his hundred.

England captain James Goodman chose to bat first and Yorkshire pair Christopher Allinson and Greg Wood put on 49 for the first wicket before the former fell to Maruf Chowdhury.

Chowdhury took two more wickets as the Under-19s stumbled to 91 for five before Sussex’s Ben Brown and Kent’s Alex Blake added 50 for the sixth wicket.

Woakes’ innings, from 31 balls, helped England post a respectable total as Malan also claimed three scalps.

Lee made an early breakthrough, removing Shaun Levy, but Malan patiently combined with his skipper to put Middlesex on course for victory.

Malan became Lee’s second victim with the score on 172 and the bowler added two more wickets before Morgan’s near run-a-ball innings came to an end six runs short of victory.

The sides meet again at the same venue on Wednesday and Friday.

Scorecard - Middlesex Second XI v England Under-19, April 15 2008 (40 KB)