The Zimbabwe Under-19 cricket team suffered a tough 8-wicket defeat to England in their latest ICC Under-19 World Cup 2026 encounter at the Takashinga Sports Club on Sunday afternoon.
Zimbabwe, batting first, posted a competitive total of 208/9 in their allotted 50 overs. Captain Simbarashe Mudzengerere led from the front with an unbeaten 45, while key contributions from Kian Blignaut (33), Dhruv Patel (36), and Tatenda Chimugoro (30) helped the hosts reach a challenging score.
However, England’s reply was clinical. The Young Lions chased down the target with ease, finishing 209/2 inside just 28 overs. A commanding 167-run unbeaten partnership between captain Thomas Rew (86)* and Ben Mayes (77)* put Zimbabwe’s bowlers under constant pressure. Rew’s innings earned him Player of the Match honours.
England’s victory not only handed Zimbabwe a group stage loss but also all but sealed England’s place in the Super Six stage of the competition. Zimbabwe, who had their earlier match against Scotland abandoned due to rain, now face Pakistan next with hopes of keeping their tournament alive.
Other Key Matches from Yesterday’s World Cup Schedule
Afghanistan Under-19s Beat West Indies
In the other scheduled fixture on January 18, Afghanistan posted a commanding win over the West Indies, showcasing strong batting and bowling performances in Group D.
The Afghan side, batting first, set a challenging total and their bowlers then dismissed West Indies well short of the target for a 138-run victory — underlining Afghanistan’s rising strength at youth level.
New Zealand vs USA Ends in No Result
In Group B, rain intervened in the clash between New Zealand Under-19s and the USA, forcing the teams to share points after the match could not reach a meaningful conclusion. USA’s Nitesh Sudini was a standout performer, scoring a terrific century before bad weather intervened.
