U19 Men’s CWC Warm-up Round-up – Bangladesh stun Australia to sound major warning ahead of the tournament

On the final day of the warm-up matches at the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2024, India, New Zealand, Bangladesh and England notched up confidence-boosting wins.

On a day that witnessed a fine hat-trick from Bangladesh pacer Rohanat Doullah Borson, there were several other impressive performers. 

Here we round up the final day of warm-up action.

India v Sri Lanka

Toss: Sri Lanka elected to bat

Result: India win by seven wickets

Skipper Uday Saharan hit his second fifty in as many warm-up matches to help India chase down 209 against Sri Lanka in Pretoria. Musheer Khan too, shone with an all-round display.

Opting to bat first, Sri Lanka were propelled by Dinura Kalupahana’s half-century. Musheer took three wickets as India restricted their neighbours to 208/9. 

In reply, India lost their openers quickly, but Saharan combined with Musheer in a crucial partnership with both batters making fifties.

Further runs from the middle-order batters, who played a few balls each and retired out, saw India cruise to an easy win.

New Zealand v Scotland

Toss: Scotland elected to bowl

Result: New Zealand win by 130 runs

An unbeaten hundred from skipper, Oscar Jackson, was the highlight of New Zealand’s massive win over Scotland on Wednesday in the U19 World Cup warm-up game at the St Stithians Jameson Field 1. 

Tom Jones and Snehith Reddy also made valuable contributions, but Jackson stole the show with a 97-ball unbeaten 112, studded with eight fours and six sixes.

Powered by his knock, New Zealand made a huge total of 306/9 in 50 overs. 

In response, Scotland struggled to stitch together partnerships and no batter crossed 30 in the innings. Ryan Tsourgas and Mason Clarke, the new ball bowlers, shared two wickets apiece while left-arm spinner Oliver Tewatiya also took two wickets. 

Scotland folded for 176 with New Zealand finishing their warm-up matches with a big victory.

Australia v Bangladesh

Toss: Australia elected to bat

Result: Bangladesh win by five wickets

Bangladesh stunned Australia by five wickets on the final day of the U19 World Cup warm-up games with Rohanat Doullah Borson impressing with a four-wicket haul, including a hat-trick.

Opting to bat first, Australia lost Harry Dixon early, but contributions from the top four meant that they were in a good position at the halfway stage. 

Things went downhill from there as medium pacer Borson and skipper and left-arm spinner Mahfuzur Rahman Rabby ran through the middle and lower orders.

From 137/3, Australia slipped to 149/9 as Borson took a hat-trick in the 34th over. 

Some late hitting gave Australia a total of 165, but Bangladesh were too good with the bat as they sealed the game with five wickets to spare.

Chowdhury Md Rizwan was the star with the bat, remaining unbeaten on 53 off 59 balls in the run-chase.

England v Pakistan

Toss: Pakistan elected to bowl

Result: England won by nine runs (DLS)

A fifty from England's Hamza Shaikh was the difference as England held onto a nine-run DLS win in another rain-affected match at the Braamfischerville Sports Complex.

Electing to bowl with the rain around, Pakistan made early inroads with the ball through Naveed Ahmed Khan, who claimed openers Jaydn Denly (1) and Ben McKinney (6).

Hamza found help in the form of Noah Thain (22) and Luc Benkenstein (30), as the English finished at 183/6 from their truncated 34-over innings.

Looking to give their batters a final hit out ahead of the tournament start, Pakistan retired several batters in their chase after making solid starts.

Ahmed Hassan (44*), Azan Awais (21*) and Muhammad Riazulluah (22*) all made way without being dismissed, before England's opening bowler Dominic Kelly returned to take 3/28 (7).

Eddie Jack claimed the wicket of Arafat Minhas in the final over to claim the warm-up win.

ENDS