England U19 through to quarter-finals

England are through to the quarter-finals of the ICC Under 19 World Cup in Sri Lanka after half-centuries from Rory Hamilton-Brown and Ben Wright set up a four-run victory over Ireland.

Hamilton-Brown (55) and Wright (50) combined in a partnership of 112 as England posted a competitive score of 214 but Ireland were always in the match and 69 from Gary Wilson almost saw them home.

England spinner Nick James returned the decisive figures of 2-25 as England held out for the win, while seamer Steve Mullaney finished with 3-33.

Ireland's Niall McDarby captured 6-50, the best bowling figures of the tournament so far, after captain Eoin Morgan won the toss and sent England in to bat.

After Neil Gill dismissed Varun Chopra, caught by Richard Stirling for 14, McDarby took over and removed Mark Stoneman (14), Mark Nelson (6) and England captain Moeen Ali (8) in quick succession.

England were struggling but Hamilton-Brown and Wright combined to stop the rot as they added 112 in 29 overs.

Hamilton-Brown was the more aggressive of the two players and he made his runs from 87 balls with five fours before he was bowled by James Hall (1-25).

Wright, meanwhile, scored his runs from 99 deliveries, including four fours, before he was dismissed by leg-spinner Greg Thompson, one of two stumping victims for wicket-keeper Fintan McAllister.

McDarby returned to mop up the tail and only four runs, as well as four wickets, came from the last two overs of the innings

When Ireland batted England's returning opening bowler Huw Waters struck with his second ball, when he had Richard Stirling (0) trapped lbw in the opening over.

McAllister and captain Morgan then added 62 runs for the second wicket before left-arm spinner Graeme White struck McAllister (25) in front of the wicket for the second lbw of the innings.

Morgan (28) followed soon after to the left-arm spin of James as England seized the initiative and James then claimed his second wicket when Andrew Poynter (8) fell to another lbw.

Wilson and David Rankin fought back with a 51-run partnership before Mullaney dismissed Rankin for 25 caught by captain Moeen Ali.

But Ireland continued to lose wickets and they needed 10 runs from the final over and five to win from the last ball but Mullaney bowled Greg Thompson to send England into the last eight of the tournament.

England coach Andy Pick said England must lift their play.

“My nails are bitten down, they are non-existent," he said.

“We keep winning and that is the best you can say and we have got players who are capable of winning matches against any other side.

“But not enough players are turning up and delivering consistent performances day after day and unless we start to do that then any idea we have of maybe winning the tournament will be academic.”

England won their opening match, against Nepal, and victory against Ireland confirmed their place in the Super League quarter-finals.