CRICKET: A century from Essex’s Dan Lawrence helped England to a massive win over Fiji in the opening game of the under-19 World Cup.

Lawrence, 18, hit 25 fours and a six as he made 174 off 150 balls.

He combined with Jack Burnham (148) for a huge second-wicket stand of 303 as England made 371-3.

Lawrence and Burnham had been two of the four England batsmen dismissed for a duck in the last warm-up game against Bangladesh, so this was the perfect way for both to bounce back.

“I’ve just been saying to the lads that as long as I get past the first over I generally do all right,” joked Lawrence.

“The top order had failed in that Bangladesh game, so it’s nice for me and Jack to get a good confidence booster. With the bowling as well, it was a very professional performance.

“Fair play to the Fiji lads, for the first 20 overs it wasn’t easy because there wasn’t much pace in the pitch. Me and Jack didn’t go berserk, we just played really until the last 10.

“But we know this is nothing to get too excited about. The lads who didn’t have a bat today were out practising straight after the game, because we’ve got West Indies on Friday. We’ve still got work to do to get to the quarter-finals, which is our first target.”

Lawrence’s Essex team-mate Callum Taylor made 21 not out in 15 balls at the end of the innings.

England then bowled out Fiji for 72 to complete a 299-run win.

Taylor bowled four overs without picking up a wicket.

England next face the West Indies on Friday.