Lloyd Pope picks eight as Australia beat England in dramatic fashion

QUEENSTOWN, Jan 23 (ANI): Leg-spinner Lloyd Pope produced a dream spell of 9.4-2-35-8 to help Australia beat England by 31 runs in dramatic fashion at the John Davies Oval in Queenstown to march into the Super League semi-finals of the ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup on Tuesday.

Lloyd's bewildering spell turned the game on its head as England were spun out for 96 in 23.4 overs after being 47 for no loss in the eighth over while chasing 128 for victory in front of the broadcast cameras. The astonishing effort ensured Australia captain Jason Sangha's fighting 58 did not go waste for the three-time champions, who now await the winner of Thursday's quarter-final between New Zealand and Afghanistan to know who they play in the first semi-final in Christchurch.

Pope's spell was the best-ever in the U19 Cricket World Cup, bettering his team-mate Jason Ralston's seven for 15 against Papua New Guinea earlier in a league match.