ICC U19 Men's Cricket World Cup 2026: Warm-ups Day 3 wrap
Afghanistan and Sri Lanka registered morale-boosting wins on Day 3 of warm-up fixtures in the lead-up to the ICC Under-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2026.
Four sides had the chance to get familiar with the conditions on Day 3 of the warm-up fixtures ahead of the ICC Under-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2026. While Afghanistan stunned defending champions Australia with a six-wicket win, Sri Lanka edging past South Africa by 12 runs - both wins determined by the DLS method.
Australia v Afghanistan, Wanderers Cricket Ground, Windhoek
Australia won the toss and elected to bat first but were quickly made to question that decision by a disciplined Afghanistan bowling attack.
Early breakthroughs saw the defending champions lose three wickets inside the powerplay, with Abdul Aziz striking twice and Wahidullah Zadran removing skipper Oliver Peake to leave Australia stranded at 44/3.
A brief rebuild followed through by Steve Hogan and wicketkeeper-batter Alex Lee Young, but Afghanistan kept the pressure on the Australian side.
Nooristani Omarzai dismissed Steve Hogan before Hafeez Zadran bowled Tom Hogan, reducing Australia to a precarious 77/5. Jayden Draper then joined Lee Young to stitch together Australia’s highest partnership of the innings, adding 55 runs to provide some much-needed stability.
Lee Young went on to complete a fighting half-century but was eventually dismissed for 57, the top score for Australia before they were folded out for 167.
Abdul Aziz was the standout performer for Afghanistan, notching figures of 3/30, while Nooristani Omarzai impressed with his economic effort, conceding just six runs in seven overs and picking up two wickets. Wahidullah Zadran, Zaitullah Shaheen, Hafeez Zadran and Nazifullah Amiri chipped in with a wicket each to complete a dominant bowling display.
Afghanistan cruised through the chase, remaining largely unchallenged by the Australian bowlers. While the early wickets of Khalid Ahmadzai and Faisal Shinozada did reduce them to 44/2, Uzairullah Niazai and Osman Sadat stitched together a crucial 57-run partnership to firmly put Afghanistan in control of the chase.
Sadat then combined with skipper Mahboob Khan to add a further 54 runs, tightening Afghanistan’s grip on the game. Sadat, batting on 54, was forced to retire hurt after sustaining an injury, but by then, Afghanistan had all but guaranteed a win.
A rain-shortened game saw the target revised to 164, which Afghanistan comfortably chased down in 35.4 overs. Hayden Schiller, Naden Cooray and Aryan Sharma were the wicket-takers for Australia, picking up one wicket each.
South Africa v Sri Lanka, United Cricket Club Ground, Windhoek
Sri Lanka elected to bat after winning the toss and made a solid start, with openers Dimantha Mahavithana and Viran Chamuditha putting together a 100-run opening partnership.
The stand was broken when Mahavithana was trapped lbw by Daniel Bosman for 45, and South Africa soon found a foothold as Bosman struck twice in quick succession to leave Sri Lanka at 137/3.
The dismissal of the well-set Chamuditha, who was removed by Enathi Khitshini for 87, triggered a collapse that saw Sri Lanka lose momentum. Kavija Gamage’s 48 off 56 balls was the only notable contribution outside the openers, as South Africa’s bowlers mounted a spirited fightback to completely crush Sri Lanka’s early momentum to dismiss them for 225.
Daniel Bosman was the standout performer with the ball, finishing with impressive figures of 3/35. He was well supported by Bandile Mbatha and Paul James, who picked up two wickets apiece, while Enathi Khitshini and Corne Botha chipped in with a wicket each.
South Africa got off to a wobbly start, with both openers back in the pavilion by the 11th over, leaving them reeling at 46/2.
Sri Lanka tightened their grip further as Viran Chamuditha and Malintha Silva grabbed a wicket each, reducing South Africa to 89/4. The decisive phase came in the 27th over when Bandile Mbatha was run out, and off the very next delivery Chamika Heenatigala dismissed Paul James, leaving South Africa in deep trouble at 107/6.
A decisive blow came when Viran Chamuditha, following up on his strong batting performance, removed South African skipper Muhammed Bulbulia for 54 - the highest score of the innings for South Africa.
Lethabo Phahlamohlaka's 19 ball 30 was another performance of note but ultimately, South Africa fell short of the revised target of 176, handing Sri Lanka a comfortable and well-earned victory.
Photo Credit : Afghanistan Cricket Board
