The England Under 19 team narrowly won its first warm-up game, in advance of the ICC Under 19 World Cup, against South Australia Under 19 in Adelaide today.

England batted first and posted 248 for 7 in the allotted 50 overs, Lancashire's Kyle Hogg top-scoring with 83 not out. South Australia Under 19, who looked set to win after reaching 230-3 in the 47th over, eventually lost by just one run.

In a tight finish, in which the hosts lost five wickets, the Australians needed three to win off the last two balls but only managed a single to end on 247-8. Kyle Hogg took three wickets for 49 runs in his 10 overs while Paul McMahon from Nottinghamshire returned the economical figures of 10 overs, one wicket for 25 runs.

England's next warm-up game is on Tuesday 8 January against Australia Under 19 - the second match against South Australia Under 19 originally planned for Sunday 6 January has been cancelled. England will play a total of three warm-up games against Australia Under 19 before leaving Adelaide for the ICC Under 19 World Cup in Christchurch, New Zealand, on Sunday 13 January.

England: 248 for 7
(Hogg 83 not out, Gordon Muchall 44, Kadeer Ali 31)
South Australia: 247 for 8
(Hogg: 10 overs 3 for 49, McMahon: 10 overs 1 for 25, Samit Patel: 10 overs 1 for 38)

© ECB 2002