Uphill battle for young chevrons

Brandon Moyo

Zimpapers Sports Hub

ZIMBABWE’S Under 19s are now staring at a do-or-die match at Takashinga Cricket Club on Thursday following the loss to England beat them by eight wickets in their second match of the ICC Men’s Under 19 Cricket World Cup 2026.

It’s been a frustrating start for the Young Chevrons in Group C on home soil. Their opening match against Scotland last Thursday at the same venue didn’t even get going, abandoned without a ball being bowled after weather wiped out the day.

That washout left Zimbabwe needing something big on Sunday, and for a while they gave themselves a chance. But England, clinical and calm in the chase, made sure there was no upset, rolling past the target with eight wickets in hand to leave the hosts with little room to breathe.

The result has turned Zimbabwe’s final group match against Pakistan on Thursday into a high pressure decider, with qualification now depending on more than just their own performance.

For Zimbabwe to reach the Super Six stage, they must beat Pakistan, and they also need Scotland to lose to Pakistan and England. Scotland were playing Pakistan yesterday and by the time of going to print that match was still in progress, meaning Zimbabwe’s route was still hanging on results elsewhere.

The timing could work in Zimbabwe’s favour. Scotland face England on Wednesday, a day before Zimbabwe meet Pakistan, so the Young Chevrons will walk into Thursday knowing exactly what the table looks like and what kind of win they need.

But there’s a warning sitting inside the permutations. If Zimbabwe lose to Pakistan, the margin will matter, because net run rate could decide who survives and who goes home early.

Zimbabwe and Pakistan aren’t strangers. The two sides met in a tri-series before the tournament, alongside Afghanistan, as part of their final build up to this World Cup. Three matches were scheduled between Zimbabwe and Pakistan, but two were abandoned, and when they finally did get a full game in the final, Zimbabwe were beaten heavily by nine wickets.

Zimbabwe currently sit on one point, while Pakistan began their campaign with a loss to England. That defeat was England’s second win, and it confirmed their qualification for the Super Six, leaving the rest of the group scrambling for the remaining places. On Sunday, Zimbabwe captain Simba Mudzengerere tried to drag his team into the contest with a fighting all-round performance. He finished unbeaten on 45 off 63 balls as Zimbabwe posted 208 for nine in their 50 overs, a total that never felt safe once England began their chase.

Mudzengerere believes Zimbabwe’s recent meetings with Pakistan could still help when the tournament hits its pressure point on Thursday.

“Playing against them before the World Cup gave us an idea of how they play and seeing how we can get them,” he said via Three-Mob.