India edge past Bangladesh in rain-hit U19 World Cup clash

BULAWAYO: Half-centuries from Vaibhav Sooriyavanshi and Abhigyan Kundu, followed by Vihaan Malhotra's four-wicket haul, led India to a narrow 18-run victory over Bangladesh in the rain-hit seventh match of the ICC Men's U19 World Cup 2026 here at the Queens Sports Club on Saturday.

In a match that was initially reduced to 49 overs per side due to rain, India were bowled out for a modest 238, courtesy of Al Fahad's five-wicket haul.

Wicketkeeper batter Kundu top-scored for India with an anchoring 80 off 112 deliveries with the help of four fours and three sixes, while Sooriyavanshi chipped in with a brisk 72 off 67 deliveries, hitting six fours and three sixes.

Besides them, middle-order batter Kanishk Chouhan (28) and No.11 Deepesh Devendran (11) could amass double figures.

Fahad was the standout bowler for Bangladesh, taking five wickets for 38 runs in his 9.2 overs, followed by Iqbal Hossain Emon and captain Azizul Hakim with two each, while Sheikh Parvez Jibon made one scalp.

Bangladesh were set a revised target of 165 in 29 overs after another rain interruption, and they could muster 146 all out in 28.3 overs.

Hakim oversaw Bangladesh's pursuit until the 25th over with an anchoring half-century and walked back after top-scoring with 51 off 72 deliveries with the help of four fours and a six.

He also shared a 56-run partnership for the second wicket with opening batter Rifat Beg, who made a notable contribution with a run-a-ball 37.

For India, Malhotra led the bowling charge with four wickets for 14 runs in his four overs, followed by Khilan Patel with two, while Kanishk Chouhan, Henil Patel and Devendran chipped in with one scalp apiece.

For his bowling exploits, Malhotra was adjudged the Player of the Match.

In the Group C match of the U19 World Cup, Sri Lanka registered a 203-run victory over Japan at the Namibia Cricket Ground in Windhoek.

Put into bat first, Sri Lanka piled up a mammoth total of 387/4 in their 50 overs, courtesy of a monumental opening partnership between Dimantha Mahavithana and Viran Chamuditha, who both scored centuries.

Chamuditha top-scored with a marathon 192-run knock, coming off 143 deliveries and featuring 27 boundaries, including a six. Mahavithana, on the other hand, made a 125-ball 115 with the help of 11 fours.

Set to chase a daunting 388-run target, Japan only managed to accumulate 184/8 in their 50 overs despite Hugo Kelly's unbeaten century.

Kelly walked out to bat at No.3, after opener Nikhil Pol perished on the second delivery of the innings, carried his bat all the way through and scored an unbeaten century, but his grit could not steer Japan to glory.

Kelly made 101 off 162 deliveries with the help of six fours and a six, while fellow top-order batter Nihar Parmar (23) was the other notable run-getter.

For Sri Lanka, Sethmika Seneviratne, Jeewantha Sriram, Viran Chamuditha, Rasith Nimsara, Vigneshwaran Akash and Chamika Heenatigala picked up one wicket apiece.