ENGLAND Under-19s recorded a comfortable eight-wicket win over Zimbabwe Under-19s after chasing down the target with ease in their ICC Men’s Under-19 World Cup match on Sunday at Takashinga Sports Club.
Zimbabwe batted first after England won the toss and chose to field. The hosts had a poor start, losing opener Nathaniel Hlabangana for a duck in the first over. Runs were slow in the early stages and Zimbabwe reached only 30 for two after ten overs, with Kupakwashe Muradzi out for eight.
Kian Blignaut and Dhruv Patel tried to steady the innings in the middle overs. Blignaut scored 33 from 63 balls, while Patel made 36 off 53 deliveries. Tatenda Chimugoro added some quick runs with 30 from 25 balls, hitting three sixes, but wickets fell often, slowing Zimbabwe’s momentum.
Captain Simbarashe Mudzengerere held the innings together with an unbeaten 45 off 63 balls. Zimbabwe finished on 208 for nine from their 50 overs.
England’s bowlers kept things tight. Manny Lumsden led the attack with three wickets, while Farhan Ahmed and Ralphie Albert picked up two wickets each.
Chasing 209, England started quickly but lost two early wickets. Shelton Mazvitorera removed Ben Dawkins for 11 and Joseph Moores for 19 to leave England on 42 for two.
From there, Captain Thomas Rew and Ben Mayes took full control of the chase. The pair batted with confidence, finding the boundary regularly and rotating the strike well. Rew played an attacking innings, scoring 86 not out from 66 balls, while Mayes supported him with a calm 77 not out off 72 balls.
The third-wicket partnership ended the contest early, as England reached the target in just 28 overs. England finished on 209 for two, winning with plenty of overs to spare.
Rew was named Player of the Match for leading from the front with the bat as England collected the full points.
