South Africa crushed Tanzania by 329 runs, Pakistan beat Scotland by 6 wickets, and Sri Lanka defeated Ireland as the ICC U19 World Cup 2026 heats up
20-01-2026,Namibia/Zimbabwe:
It was a massive day of cricket on January 19 as the big hitters finally joined the party in the 2026 U19 World Cup. While South Africa basically rewrote the record books against Tanzania, Pakistan had a much more professional, clinical day at the office to see off Scotland.
South Africa’s Batting masterclass
If you were a Tanzania bowler in Windhoek today, you probably want to forget this one quickly. South Africa didn’t just win, they put on an absolute clinic, racking up a terrifying 397 for 5.
The stars of the show? Jason Rowles and Muhammad Bulbulia. Both notched up centuries, but the real damage came late in the innings. The South Africans went into “video game mode” during the final eight overs, bruising the boundary for 116 runs in that short window alone. Jorich van Schalkwyk and Paul James were particularly brutal, clearing the ropes almost at will.
Tanzania never really stood a chance in the chase. They were reeling at 13 for 4 before most fans had even settled into their seats, eventually folding for just 68. A 329-run win is a huge statement of intent from the young Proteas.
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Pakistan Stays Cool in harare
Over in Harare, things were a bit more tactical. Pakistan’s bowlers set the tone early, with Ali Raza causing all sorts of headaches for the Scottish top order. Scotland showed some real grit in the middle—thanks to a fighting 58-run stand between Thomas Knight and Finlay Jones—but 187 was never going to be enough against this Pakistan lineup.
The chase had a few nervy moments early on, but Usman Khan (75) and Ahmed Hussain (47) put on a 111-run masterclass in partnership building. They didn’t take unnecessary risks, played the gaps, and essentially took the wind out of Scotland’s sails. Captain Farhan Yousaf walked out at the end to apply the finishing touches, securing a comfortable six-wicket win.
Sri Lanka Goes Two-for-Two
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka is quietly becoming the team to beat in the early stages. They picked up their second straight win by dismantling Ireland by 106 runs.
Captain Vimath Dinsara was the anchor they needed, falling just short of a ton with a classy 95. Ireland showed some flashes of brilliance with the ball, but they just couldn’t handle Dulnith Sigera, whose 4 for 19 made the 267-run target look like a mountain that couldn’t be climbed.
What’s Next?
With the “big” teams now finding their rhythm, the group stages are getting serious. South Africa looks like they have the most explosive batting lineup in the tournament, but Pakistan’s disciplined bowling attack might just be the equalizer.
