THORNBURY batsman Chris Dent hit 53 not out as England earned a place in the ICC under-19 World Cup quarter-finals with a nine-wicket win over Afghanistan in New Zealand.

The victory at New Brighton guaranteed a place in the last eight for England, who are due to face India tomorrow to decide the winners of Group A.

Dent and his Gloucestershire team-mate David Payne also played key roles in England’s opening nine-wicket win over Hong Kong in Christchurch last Friday.

Payne, who was on a hat-trick at one stage after taking wickets with the final ball of one over and the first of his next, took 3-24 from nine overs as Hong Kong were bowled out for 185.

Then Dent launched the England innings with meaty leg-side boundaries to make his 33 off 37 balls and Joe Root and James Vince finished the job aggressively in an unbroken stand of 129.

On Monday, Afghanistan were bowled out for 126 at the Queen Elizabeth II ground and Dent led the reply, scoring his 53 off 67 balls.

In contrast to his bludgeoning style against Hong Kong, he found the boundary only four times, but knocked the ball into gaps very well.