HARARE (SNP Report): Pakistan edged past Scotland by six wickets to register their first win in the ongoing ICC Men’s U19 World Cup 2026 on Monday at Takashinga Sports Club, Highfield.
Chasing 188, Pakistan reached the target in the 44th over after a steady start, with openers Sameer Minhas and Ali Hassan Baloch setting the tone with a solid partnership. The stand was broken when Ali Hassan was bowled by Ollie Jones for 15 off 33 balls, including one boundary, leaving Pakistan at 43-1 in 9.4 overs.
In the first delivery of the 12th over, Pakistan lost their second wicket as Jones struck again, dismissing the dangerous Sameer Minhas for 28 off 30 balls, which included three fours. Usman Khan and Ahmed Hussain then joined forces, steadily adding crucial runs and forging a strong third-wicket partnership.
The duo added 50 runs, easing the pressure and taking Pakistan past the 100-run mark, laying the platform to chase down the target comfortably. Usman was in top form, playing sensibly for the green shirts and guiding his side closer to victory with a half-century.
The 111-run partnership was finally broken when Manu Saraswat claimed the prized wicket of Usman Khan, who had scored 75 off 85 balls, including five boundaries and two sixes, leaving the team at 159-3 in 38.1 overs. Hussain was inching closer to his third Youth ODI half-century but was soon dismissed by Saraswat for 47 off 92 balls, including three boundaries.
Skipper Farhan Yousaf then hit the winning runs, remaining unbeaten on 18 off 11 deliveries, while Huzaifa faced nine balls without scoring. After being asked to bat first, Scotland suffered early setbacks as pacer Ali Raza struck in the opening over, dismissing both openers, Theo Robinson for four off two balls and Max Chaplin for two.
Captain Thomas Knight and Rory Grant then steadied the innings, adding valuable runs and taking the total past the 50-run mark. Their partnership was broken when Momin Qamar removed Grant for a vital 21 off 45 deliveries, including one boundary, leaving Scotland at 59-3 in 16.5 overs. A few overs later, Momin struck again to claim his second wicket, dismissing Finlay Carter for 12 off 16 balls with the help of two fours.
Knight and Ollie Jones combined to rebuild the innings, forging a steady partnership that carried Scotland past 100 in the 26th over. However, the 40-run stand ended when Ali Raza returned to hit the stumps and dismiss Jones for a crucial 30 off 35 deliveries, which included three boundaries, with the score at 115-5 in 28.4 overs.
Scotland came under further pressure in the next over as Momin Qamar claimed the prized wicket of skipper Knight, who top-scored with 37 off 72 balls, including three fours. Manu Saraswat and Finlay Jones then added a fighting 50-run partnership for the seventh wicket, helping Scotland recover and push towards a competitive total.
The resistance ended when Ali Raza claimed his fourth wicket, dismissing Finlay Jones for a gritty 33 off 56 balls, which featured two sixes, leaving Scotland at 173-7 in 42.4 overs. Mohammad Sayyam later joined the attack and picked up his first wicket, removing the set batter Saraswat, who scored an important 25 off 36 deliveries, including one six.
Ethan Ramsay became the ninth batter to fall after being run out by wicketkeeper Hamza Zahoor for five off 15 balls, while Jake Woodhouse was the last to be dismissed, bowled by Abdul Subhan for two off four deliveries. For Pakistan, Ali Raza led the bowling attack with impressive figures of 4/37 in his 10 overs. Momin Qamar claimed three wickets, while Mohammad Sayyam and Abdul Subhan picked up one wicket apiece.
Meanwhile, South Africa and Sri Lanka delivered dominant performances to seal victories over Tanzania and Ireland respectively in their group stage fixtures here at the ICC Men’s U19 World Cup 2026 on Monday. Put into bat first, South Africa racked up a massive 397-5 at the end of their 50 overs.
Skipper Muhammed Bulbulia and Jason Rowles scored commanding centuries, with both batters forging a monumental 201-run stand for the third wicket partnership. The pair took the score from 93 to 294 in 42.5 overs. Bulbulia’s innings of 108 from 108 balls was laced with 10 fours and six while Rowles remained unbeaten on 125* from 101 deliveries, hitting 10 fours and five sixes. For Tanzania, Simba Mbaki picked up two wickets.
In reply, Tanzania could not get going, with the whole team bundled out for only 68 in 32.2 overs. The innings involved two run-outs with one batter absent due to injury. For South Africa, it was Jason Rowles again with the ball, scalping two wickets. Bayanda Majola also took wickets.
In the Group A fixture played here at the Namibia Cricket Ground, Sri Lanka crushed Ireland by 106 runs as skipper Vimath Dinsara led from the front with an all-round performance. Opting to bat first, Sri Lanka managed to put 267-5 on the board in their 50 overs. Despite losing three wickets for 59 in 14.2 overs, it was Vimath Dinsara who held the innings together. He strung a couple of partnerships that kept Sri Lanka afloat.
The highlight of Sri Lankan batting was a century stand between Dinsara and Kavija Gamage, which brought the total from 139-4 to 239 in 46 overs. Dinsara top-scored with 95 from 102 balls, striking half a dozen boundaries and a six. Gamage fell one short of a half-century, a knock that included six boundaries. Meanwhile, Chamika Heenatigala also chipped in with 51 off 53 balls. For Ireland, Oliver Riley took two wickets.
In reply, Ireland were bowled out for 161 in 40.1 overs, thanks to Dulnith Sigera’s four-wicket haul. The Irish batters were in trouble fromthe start, with none of their batters getting going except opener Callum Armstrong, who made 39. With this win, Sri Lanka registered their second consecutive win of the tournament, having previously defeated Japan in their opening encounter.
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