"VAN" (Sports Desk - 11.01.2026) :: The road to Harare begun for 10 more teams on Saturday, with five warm-ups matches ahead of the ICC Under-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2026.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi continued to catch the eye with a superb 96 as India beat Scotland, while Tanzania were in excellent form ahead of their tournament debut while beating Japan.
Co-hosts Zimbabwe were among six teams frustrated by wet weather, with three matches abandoned.
Super Sooryavanshi narrowly misses century as India impress
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi continued to set tongues wagging as he hit a blistering 50-ball 96 in India’s emphatic 121-run win against Scotland, via DLS.
The 14-year-old scored 68 and 127 in a series against South Africa on the eve of this tournament and maintained that form with nine fours and seven sixes in a brilliant innings that set the platform for India to compile a high score.
Vihaan Malhotra (77), Aaron Varghese (61) and Abhigyan Kundu (55) also hit half-centuries as India scored 374 for eight from 50 overs.
Wet weather meant Scotland faced a revised target of 234 from 24 overs, and they started well by reaching 59 for one. But they lost regular wickets from there, as Khilan Patel (3/4) and Deepesh Devendran (3/14) took three each to carry India to victory.
All-action Bakrania inspires Tanzania
Tanzania impressed ahead of their first-ever ICC Under-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup with a comfortable win against Japan.
Laksh Bakrania produced a captain’s performance by hitting an unbeaten 53 with the bat and taking two wickets with the ball in the 81-run victory via DLS.
Tanzania batted first and rebuilt from 17 for three to score 204 for nine, with Bakrania top-scoring and further contributions from Karim Kiseto (34) and Augustine Mwamele (23).
Kazuma Kato-Stafford (2/32) removed Tanzania’s openers, while Nihar Parmar took three for 15 as Japan impressed in the field.
Set an adjusted 127 in the run chase, Japan struggled to form a meaningful partnership as Tanzania’s impressive bowling arsenal blew them away for 45 – with Raymond Francis taking three for seven.
Gill hits century against hosts Zimbabwe
Amrinder Gill hit an excellent century at the top of the order as USA appeared set for a promising total against Zimbabwe before rain halted play in Harare.
Gill hit 15 fours in his 118-ball knock and carried USA to 174 for four from 33.2 overs before wet weather curtailed the match.
USA captain Utkarsh Srivastava weighed in with 30, while Dhruv Patel took two wickets for Zimbabwe.
Andrew on form as West Indies make solid start
Jewel Andrew top-scored for West Indies with a well-executed 81 but their match with Ireland was also abandoned due to rain in Windhoek.
West Indies were bowled out for 246 in 42.5 overs, with wicket-keeper Andrew the only batter to pass 50, but Ireland were unable to start their innings.
Andrew had support from Isra-El Morton (36), Jonathan Van Lange (28) and Zachary Carter (26), while Luke Murray was the pick of the Ireland bowlers as he finished with three for 39.
Kalam hits the ground running
In Masvingo, Kalam Siddiki got his eye in with an unbeaten 71 but rain curtailed Bangladesh’s match with Pakistan.
Pakistan elected to field and made a promising start by restricting Bangladesh to 12 for three as Ali Raza removed both openers in his first over.
Siddiki, batting at four, held the innings together and hit six fours in his 98-ball innings, but Pakistan took regular wickets and Rizan Hossan (18) was Bangladesh’s next highest scorer.
The inclement weather reduced Bangladesh’s innings to a maximum of 43 overs and they completed 36.3 before the match was abandoned.
The two teams next play on Tuesday, with Pakistan due to face USA in Bulawayo while Bangladesh head to Harare to play Scotland.
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