U-19 WC
\n harare
\nFive-time champions India began their 2026 Men\u2019s Under-19 World Cup campaign with a six-wicket win (via DLS) over United States of America, but not without a brief scare.
\nWhen right-arm quick Henil Patel\u2019s five-wicket haul skittled USA for 107, it looked like it would be an easy win for India. However, in a rain-affected chase, India lost three wickets\u2013including those of captain Ayush Mhatre and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi\u2013inside the first six overs. But Abhigyan Kundu, who hit a double-century in the Under-19 Asia Cup in the lead up to the World Cup, played an assured knock to seal the deal.
\nHenil, who draws inspiration from Dale Steyn, struck in his first over in the first innings, with Amrinder Gill the first to fall to his extra bounce as he edged one to second slip. USA opener Sahil Garg and wicketkeeper Arjun Mahesh then put up a resistance, even if runs were hard to come by. They added 28 runs in 45 deliveries before Garg sent Deepesh Devendran\u2019s short ball straight to deep third.
\nTwo overs later, Henil had his second when USA captain Utkarsh Srivastava shouldered arms but couldn\u2019t get his bat out of the way, dragging the ball onto the stumps. This was the first of two double-wicket overs for Henil, as he had the set Mahesh slicing to deep third too.
\nSpin was introduced in the 16th over and the decision paid off as Amogh Arepally chipped left-arm spinner Khilan Patel to cover. However, Adnit Jhamb and Nitish Sudini looked settled against the spin and put on USA\u2019s highest partnership\u201330 in 8.5 overs.
\nSudini tried some big shots, but was beaten by the spin, however the pair rotated strike nicely. With the spinners failing to create an opening, Mhatre went back to pace and RS Ambrish got the breakthrough with a length ball that took Jhamb\u2019s outside edge.
\nA brilliant piece of fielding then sent Adit Kappa back. He hit a ball to cover\u2019s right and took off for the single, but Vihaan Malhotra\u2013a livewire in the field\u2013dived and made a good stop. He then nailed a direct hit at the non-striker\u2019s end.
\nWith just three wickets in hand, Sudini then upped the tempo but Henil ended a 25-run stand by bouncing out Sabrish Prasad. Next ball, Henil cleaned up No. 10 Rishabh Shimpi and found himself on a hat-trick. But he never got another crack as Sudini tried to take on Vaibhav Sooryavanshi\u2019s part-time bowling and picked out long-off, leaving India 108 to chase.
\nFrancis, Bell, Andrew help WI thump Tanzania
\nWest Indies kickstarted their campaign at the 2026 Men\u2019s U19 World Cup with a drubbing of Tanzania for the first result of the tournament in Windhoek.
\nWest Indies won the toss and chose to bowl, but had to wait till the 14th over for the first breakthrough. Tanzania openers Dylan Thakrar (26) and Darpan Jobanputra (19) put on a 53-run opening stand to frustrate West Indies\u2019 new-ball bowlers before medium pacer Jonathan Van Lange broke the stand.
\nSeamer Shaquan Belle, who took the catch to break the first-wicket stand, then dismissed Thakrar in the 15th over, ran No. 3 Ayaan Shariff out in the 16th, and got Augustino Mwamele in the 19th. The three wickets in three overs opened up Tanzania\u2019s batting, and a procession of wickets followed. Left-arm wristspinner Vitel Lawes ran through the lower-middle order for a three-wicket haul, and Tanzania folded for 122 in the 34th over.
\nIn the chase, Tanzania\u2019s seamer Mwamele got an early breakthrough to remove West Indies opener Zachary Carter in the fourth over. But an 80-run second-wicket partnership between Tanez Francis (52) and Jewel Andrew (44) eased the chase.
\nAlthough West Indies lost four wickets between the 17th and 20th overs for a brief stutter, the low target meant they eventually cruised to their first win in Group D with 29 overs to spare.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
U-19 WC harare Five-time champions India began their 2026 Men\u2019s Under-19 World Cup campaign with a six-wicket win (via DLS) over United States of America, but not without a brief scare. When right-arm quick Henil Patel\u2019s five-wicket haul skittled USA for 107, it looked like it would be an easy win for India. However, in […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":525917,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-525886","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sports"},"yoast_head":"\n