The Under-19 World Cup 2026 is heating up in Zimbabwe as two more teams have officially punched their tickets to the Super Sixes. England and Afghanistan both secured their second consecutive victories on Sunday, showcasing clinical performances that left their opponents searching for answers.
While England relied on a brutal, record-breaking chase to dismantle the hosts in Harare, Afghanistan used a combination of disciplined batting and lethal spin to overwhelm the West Indies. Both sides now sit comfortably at the top of their respective groups, cementing their status as serious title contenders.
Rew and Mayes Power England to Victory Over Zimbabwe
Playing in front of a home crowd, Zimbabwe struggled to find a rhythm after being asked to bat first by England. The hosts suffered an immediate blow when Alex French dismissed Nathaniel Hlabangana for a duck in the very first over. Although the Zimbabwean middle order showed flashes of brilliance—with several batters crossing the 30-run mark—no one could capitalize on their starts.
Captain Simbarashe Mudzengerere fought a lonely battle, finishing with an unbeaten 45, but England’s bowling attack remained relentless. Manny Lumsden was the pick of the bowlers with three wickets, while Farhan Ahmed and Ralphie Albert kept the pressure on through the middle overs. Zimbabwe eventually crawled to a total of 208 for 9.
England’s response was nothing short of a statement. Despite losing two early wickets, Thomas Rew and Ben Mayes orchestrated an unbroken 167-run partnership that took the game away from the hosts in record time. Rew reached his half-century in just 30 balls, while Mayes played a more measured, run-a-ball 77*. The pair treated the chase like a T20 match, sprinting past the target with 22 overs to spare. For Zimbabwe, the road ahead looks steep; after a washout in their opener, they must now beat a powerhouse Pakistan side to keep their tournament dreams alive.
Afghanistan Spin Web Around West Indies in Massive 138-Run Win
In a clash that many expected to be a tight contest, Afghanistan proved far too strong for the West Indies. After opting to bat first, Afghanistan’s openers set a solid foundation with an 86-run stand. However, it was the partnership between Osman Sadat (88) and Mahboob Khan (86) that truly defined the innings.
Mahboob provided the late-innings fireworks, smashing 36 runs off his final 15 deliveries to propel Afghanistan to a formidable 262 for 6. The West Indies’ bowling attack, led by Vitel Lawes and Nathan Pollard, managed to snag three wickets each, but they couldn’t stem the flow of runs during a frantic final ten overs.
The chase for the West Indies never truly got off the ground. They were rocked early by the off-spin of Wahidullah Zadran, losing four wickets within the first 11 overs. Senior international Jewel Andrew was the only highlight for the Caribbean side, scoring a defiant 57, but he lacked support at the other end. Nooristani Omarzai dismantled the lower order with a four-wicket haul, as the West Indies were bundled out for a meager 124. This clinical victory ensures Afghanistan’s progression and leaves the West Indies needing a win in their final group game to advance.
