England U19 Stun Pakistan By 37 Runs In World Cup Opener

KEY POINTS

England defended 210 to bowl out Pakistan for 173, winning by 37 runs in Harare opener.
Pakistan collapsed to 77-5 after early strikes by Alex Green, James Minto, and Ralphie Albert.
Farhan Yousuf top-scored with gritty 65, but England’s bowlers sealed victory with key wickets.
Caleb Falconer hit 66 to rescue England; Pakistan’s Ahmed Hussain took 3/38 in defeat.

HARARE: England kicked off their ICC U19 World Cup campaign with a commanding 37-run victory over Pakistan at Takashinga Sports Club on Friday.

Defending 210, England’s bowlers dismantled Pakistan for 173 in 46.3 overs, showcasing clinical precision to secure a morale-boosting win.

Pakistan’s chase crumbles

Chasing 211, Pakistan started steadily but collapsed after losing early wickets. Sameer Minhas fell for 10 in the fourth over to Alex Green, followed by Mohammad Shayan (7) off the next ball, slumping to 23-2.

Usman Khan (6) became the third victim to James Minto, while Ahmed Hussain (12) and skipper Farhan Yousuf fought back briefly. Huzaifa Ahsan (17) and Hamza Zahoor (4) fell to Ralphie Albert, leaving Pakistan at 77-5.

Farhan Yousuf anchored with a gritty 65 off 86 balls, including a 48-run stand with Abdul Subhan (14). But Minto dismissed Farhan, Manny Lumsden removed Umar Zaib (10), and Ali Raza’s run out sealed the innings at 173.

England’s modest total defended

Pakistan under 19 01

Batting first, England lost opener Joseph Moores (7) to Ali Raza early, then Ben Dawkins (33) and Ben Mayes (20) to Ahmed Hussain, slipping to 67-3.

Skipper Thomas Rew (13) fell to Abdul Subhan, but Caleb Falconer (66 off 73, 3×4, 2×6) and Ralphie Albert (25) rebuilt with an 80-run stand. Falconer notched his second Youth ODI fifty before Hussain and Raza struck.

Late blows included Sebastian Morgan (3) and Farhan Ahmed (15, run out) to Momin Qamar, James Minto (4) to Qamar, and Manny Lumsden (2) to Subhan. England finished at 210 all out.