England Triumphs, Afghanistan Surprises: Dramatic Clashes in U-19 World Cup 2026

England secured a 37-run victory against Pakistan in a Group C match of the ICC Under-19 World Cup at the Takashinga Sports Club in Harare on Friday, following a collapse in Pakistan’s batting lineup.

Chasing a modest target of 211, Pakistan stumbled to 85 for six by the 26th over. A 48-run stand for the seventh wicket between captain Farhan Yousaf and Abdul Subhan briefly stabilized the innings.

Yousaf managed a notable 65 off 86 balls, but no other Pakistani batter exceeded 18 runs. England’s bowlers delivered a comprehensive performance, with seamers Alex Green and James Minto each taking two wickets. Left-arm spinner Ralphie Albert also contributed by claiming two scalps.

Earlier, England posted 210 in 46.5 overs, led by Caleb Falconer’s 66 off 73 balls after being asked to bat first. Pakistan’s Ahmed Hussain posed the greatest challenge, finishing with figures of 3/38 from his 10 overs.

In Group B, Afghanistan surprised South Africa at the High Performance Oval in Windhoek. Despite four run outs, South Africa fell 28 runs short of Afghanistan’s challenging target of 267 runs.

Jason Rowles was South Africa’s mainstay, scoring 98 off 93 balls, but his dismissal left the team needing 89 runs with four wickets in hand. Efforts by Lethabo Phahlamohlaka (22), Daniel Bosman (20), and Corne Botha (25) were commendable but insufficient.

Afghanistan’s innings was bolstered by half-centuries from opener Khalid Ahmadzai (74), Faisal Shinozada (81), and Uzairullah Niazai (51 n.o.). Despite a collapse from 183 for one to 186 for five, the team, led by Mahboob Khan, managed to set a winning score.

In Group A, Australia triumphed over Ireland with an eight-wicket win at the Namibia Cricket Ground in Windhoek, thanks to the tournament’s first century by Steven Hogan.

Hogan’s impressive 115 off 111 balls, alongside Nitesh Samuel’s 77 from 101 balls, guided Australia past Ireland’s 236-run target with over 10 overs to spare.

Right-arm pacer Charles Lachmund was the standout bowler for Australia, taking 3/41 from 10 overs and helping to limit Ireland to 235 for seven in 50 overs. Despite a resilient 79-run innings from Rob O’Brien, Ireland couldn’t pose a formidable challenge to the defending champions.

Published on Jan 16, 2026