Zimbabwe Under-19 captain Simba Mudzengerere delivered a spirited all-round display with bat and ball, but England proved too strong as they secured an eight-wicket victory in their ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2026 clash at Takashinga Cricket Club in Harare on Sunday.
Asked to bat first, the hosts endured a shaky start, losing Nathaniel Hlabangama to the third ball of the innings before Kupakwashe Muradzi followed soon after for eight.
The middle order, however, mounted a recovery, with a series of composed partnerships lifting Zimbabwe to 107 before the fourth wicket fell.
Kian Blignaut contributed a steady 33, while Dhruv Patel added 36 and Tatenda Chimugoro injected urgency with a brisk 30 off 25 deliveries, striking three sixes and a four.
Mudzengerere arrived at the crease after the fourth wicket and anchored the remainder of the innings, batting with authority and control as wickets continued to fall at the other end.
He carried his bat through to the close, finishing unbeaten on 45 as Zimbabwe posted 208 for nine.
England’s pace bowler Manny Lumsden was the standout performer with the ball, claiming three wickets for 38 runs, though two of his dismissals came from the tail.
Zimbabwe briefly threatened with the ball when Shelton Mazvitorera removed both England openers with the score on 42, but any hopes of a sustained fightback were extinguished by a commanding partnership between Ben Mayes and captain Thomas Rew.
The pair guided England to their target without further loss, with Mayes finishing on an unbeaten 77 from 72 balls, while Rew was particularly dominant, striking 86 off just 66 deliveries.
Mazvitorera ended with two wickets but conceded 54 runs from his six overs, while Mudzengerere capped his day with a remarkably frugal spell of six overs for just 16 runs, albeit without reward.
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