Vusumuzi Dube
Tinashe Kusema, Zimpapers Sports Hub
ZIMBABWE will face India at Queens Sports Club on Tuesday after the Asian giants cruised to a seven wicket Duckworth Lewis victory over New Zealand yesterday to clinch Group B and book their Super Six meeting with the hosts in Bulawayo.
For Elton Chigumbura and his Young Chevrons, it was a day of waiting, watching and calculating. They arrived in Bulawayo on Friday without knowing who would walk into Queens next, and by Saturday afternoon the answer was clear. India are coming, unbeaten, confident, and with momentum that has followed them across the wet, unpredictable early days of this ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup.
The match that decided Zimbabwe’s next opponent started late because of a damp outfield at Queens, the kind of stop start weather Bulawayo has been dealing with in recent days. Officials cut it down to 37 overs a side, but India never allowed the shortened format to create drama. They won the toss, fielded first, and squeezed New Zealand until the innings collapsed.
India’s bowlers did the damage with control and pace. RS Ambrose, 18, led the way with four wickets for 29 as New Zealand were bundled out for 135 inside 35 overs. Hanil Patel supported him with three for 23, while Khilan Patel, Mohamed Enaan and Kanishk Chouhan picked up a wicket each to keep the pressure tight and the scoreboard stuck.
New Zealand struggled to settle on a surface they could not read. This was their first full match of the tournament, and it showed in the timing, the footwork, and the way wickets kept falling just as they threatened to rebuild. Only five batters reached double figures, and even the top score, Callum Samson’s unbeaten 37 off 48 balls, came in an innings that never truly lifted.
Jacob Cotter battled for 23 off 47, Selwin Sanjay struck 28 off 30, but Zimbabwe’s Tuesday opponents never lost grip. The Kiwis kept trying to force pace into a chase they could not set up, and the innings ended without a late surge, leaving them with a total that looked light the moment it went up.
India treated the chase like a job to finish early. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and captain Ayush Mhatre took control with a second wicket stand of 76 off 39 balls, turning what should have been a careful pursuit into a statement. Mhatre’s 53 off 27 balls was clean, sharp and decisive, while Sooryavanshi’s 40 off 23 ensured there was no space for New Zealand to drag the match into the final overs.
New Zealand did claim three wickets through Mason Clarke, Jaskaran and Sanjay, but by then the match had already tilted too far. Sanjay’s one for 22 was the most economical spell in a chase that never felt under threat.
Afterwards, New Zealand captain Tom Jones did not hide behind conditions or scheduling quirks, even though his side qualified for the Super Six having played only one full match in the group stage.
“We have to give credit to the Indian team,” said Jones.
“We will take the learnings from it. We are certainly making no excuses, proud of the way the players have been consistent.
“It feels weird that we are through to the Super Sixes with just playing one game. We came up against a really good side, so credit to them.”
India captain Mhatre said his side kept it simple in conditions that could have turned messy.
“There was a simple plan because the ball was coming nicely on to the bat,” he said.
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“The boys are really confident and the coaches as well, so I am very happy with the players.
“We showed the character and really good attitude as it wasn’t easy for us as well due to the weather.
However, the boys are mature enough to adapt to conditions and they just backed their basics.”
The win sealed India’s place at the top of Group B with a perfect record, six points from three matches. Bangladesh finished second on three points, while New Zealand grabbed the last Super Six ticket with two points. The United States of America ended bottom of the group with one point, earned from their washed-out match against New Zealand.
The result also closed the preliminary round of the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup and pushed the tournament into its most demanding phase, where Zimbabwe now face the pressure of hosting and competing against teams that arrive with points and rhythm.
The Super Six programme begins this morning with Australia playing South Africa and Ireland meeting West Indies, both matches set for Namibia. Three more fixtures follow tomorrow, including Bangladesh against England at Queens Sports Club, while Afghanistan play Sri Lanka in Namibia.
In Harare, Scotland face the United States of America in the 16th place play-off match. Zimbabwe’s attention, though, is fixed on Tuesday at Queens, where Chigumbura’s side will come up against an India team that has not blinked yet. New Zealand, meanwhile, travel to Harare Sports Club for a Super Six clash with Pakistan.
Online Reporter