England stay perfect as Sri Lanka and the USA also triumph

Media release

England continued where they had left off as they made it four wins from four by prevailing in their Super Six opener at the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2026.

An unbeaten half-century from Thomas Rew following a fine team bowling display saw them to a seven-wicket victory over Bangladesh.

Elsewhere, Sri Lanka edged to a four-wicket victory over Afghanistan to stay in the hunt for the semi-finals.

And in the play-off clash between the USA and Scotland, Adnit Jhamb’s brilliant hundred saw the Americans home by seven wickets.

England extend unbeaten run in dominant fashion

England made a commanding start to the Super Six stage as they cruised to a seven-wicket win over Bangladesh to move within touching distance of the semi-finals.

Despite winning the toss, Bangladesh quickly found themselves in trouble, with Zawad Abrar dismissed by Sebastian Morgan off the third ball of the innings for six.

Rifat Beg (31) and skipper Azizul Hakim Takim (20) rebuilt with a 46-run stand before Rifat fell to Farhan Ahmed with Ralphie Albert (2/15) then striking twice in an over.

From 72 for four, Bangladesh lost wickets at regular intervals as all six English bowlers got in on the act, to bowl them out for 136.

That set up a straightforward chase, even after Joe Moores’ early dismissal.

Ben Dawkins compiled a handy 27 before he departed, while in-form Ben Mayes contributed 34.

He and Thomas Rew added 78, with the wicketkeeper then seeing England home with his unbeaten 59.

Sri Lanka come through tough test

A carefully constructed chase saw Sri Lanka battle to a four-wicket win over previously unbeaten Afghanistan in their first Super Six encounter.

After being put into bat, Afghanistan lost Khalid Ahmadzai early while Faisal Khan was then run out for 22.

From 50 for one, they were quickly reduced to 64 for four, but Osman Sadat (61) and Aziz Mia Khil (43) steadied the ship with a 76-run partnership.

Having lost wickets, they had to drop the run-rate however, before Viran Chamuditha (2/20) finally had Osman bowled.

Aziz followed shortly after, one of three run-outs in the innings as Afghanistan were bowled out for 193, Rohullah Arab scoring some valuable late runs with his unbeaten 22.

Chamuditha could not match his bowling exploits with the bat, falling in the first over, but Dimantha Mahavithana (37) and Senuja Wekunagoda (43) put on 55 for the second wicket.

Nooristani Omarzai got the breakthrough, and wickets fell at regular intervals even as the runs flowed steadily.

When Wekunagoda was the fifth Sri Lankan to depart, the game looked finely balanced, although the required rate was not an issue.

Chamika Heentigala (22 not out) and Dulnith Sigera (30) took their time initially but then upped the pace when the target was within sight.

While Sigera did fall to Rohullah (2/23), Heentigala saw Sri Lanka home.

Jhamb ton carries USA past Scotland

A brilliant unbeaten century from Adnit Jhamb fired the USA to a seven-wicket win over Scotland in their play-off encounter.

The Scots batted first and made 236 all out as the final wicket fell off the last ball of their 50 overs.

Theo Robinson was the standout performer, making 83 at the top of the order, sharing an 89-run stand with Manu Saraswat (41).

Scotland’s innings crumbled when that partnership was broken, losing three wickets for no runs and going from 164 for two to 182 for seven.

Ritvik Appadi (4/54) and Rayaan Taj (3/37) did most of the damage, although Jake Woodside’s 28 from number nine helped Scotland to a competitive total.

However, after decent starts for Amrinder Gill (35) and Sahil Garg (16), it was Jhamb and Utkarsh Srivastava (52) who took the game away from Scotland.

The pair added 129, and once the skipper had departed, Jhamb kicked on to reach an unbeaten 116 and see the USA home.

Scores in brief

England v Bangladesh – Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo

Bangladesh 136 all out 38.1 overs (Rifat Beg 31, Md Abdullah 25; Sebastian Morgan 3/28, Ralphie Albert 2/15)

England 137/3 in 24.1 overs (Thomas Rew 59 not out, Ben Mayes 34; Al Fahad 2/37, Samiun Basir Ratul 1/30)

Result: England won by seven wickets

Afghanistan v Sri Lanka – Namibia Cricket Ground, Windhoek

Afghanistan 193 all out in 49.5 overs (Osman Sadat 61, Aziz Mia Khil 43; Viran Chamuditha 2/20, Kugalas Mathulan 2/62)

Sri Lanka 194/6 in 46.5 overs (Senuja Wekunagoda 43, Dimantha Mahavithana 37; Rohullah Arab 2/23, Wahid Zadran 1/29)

Result: Sri Lanka won by four wickets

USA v Scotland – Harare Sports Club, Harare

Scotland 236 all out in 50 overs (Theo Robinson 83, Manu Saraswat 41; Ritvik Appadi 4/54, Rayaan Taj 3/37)

USA 239/3 in 38.4 overs (Adnit Jhamb 116 not out, Utkarsh Srivastava 52; Ollie Jones 2/46, Manu Saraswat 1/46)

Result: USA won by seven wickets