ICC Under-19 World Cup 2026: England, Sri Lanka start Super Six with victories

England and Sri Lanka got their Super Six campaigns off to winning starts with victories over Bangladesh and Afghanistan respectively in the next phase of the ICC Under-19 World Cup 2026 on Monday, January 26.

England beat Bangladesh by seven wickets at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo, with Thomas Rew scoring an unbeaten half-century to see his team over the line.

After winning the toss and opting to bat first, Bangladesh’s innings got off to a disastrous start as it lost opener Zawad Abrar in the first over to Sebastian Morgan. Captain Azizul Hakim and Rifat Beg then steadied the ship to reach 53 for one, but their dismissals triggered a collapse that saw it lose its final six wickets for 64 as it was bowled out for 136.

Morgan was the star with the ball, taking three for 28, while Ralphie Albert (two for 15) and Manny Lumsden (two for 18) both picked a brace of wickets.

England lost Joseph Moores early in its chase, but the total proved insufficient for a close contest, as Rew and Ben Mayes put on 78 for the third wicket to break the back of the chase.

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Sri Lanka overcame some jitters in its chase to secure a four-wicket victory over Afghanistan at the Namibia Cricket Ground in Windhoek.

After winning the toss and opting to bowl first, Sri Lanka chipped away at the Afghanistan batting line-up. It took wickets at regular intervals, while Osman Sadat held the Afghanistan innings together with 61. Once Sadat fell with the score at 140 for five, Afghanistan could only muster 193 with a ball to spare in its innings.

Viren Chamuditha was the pick of the bowlers with two for 20, while four other Sri Lanka bowlers found their way into the wickets as well.

Sri Lanka appeared well set in its chase as Dimantha Mahavithana and Senuja Wekuganoda steered it to 60 for one. However, regular wickets helped Afghanistan make the match competitive. None of the Sri Lankan batters managed to cross fifty, while Roohullah Arab took two for 23.

Dulnith Sigera and Chamika Heenatigala then stitiched together a partnership of 52 to push Sri Lanka to the edge of victory. Though Sigera would fall before the conclusion of the match, Heenatigala would remain unbeaten as Sri Lanka got over the line to secure its first victory of the Super Six stage.

In the 16th place playoff, Adnit Jhamb starred with an unbeaten 116 as USA defeated Scotland by seven wickets at the Harare Sports Club. Ritvik Appidi claimed four for 54 as Scotland was bowled out for 236 before Jhamb’’s century and captain Utkarsh Srivastava’s hal

Published on Jan 26, 2026

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