England U19 and Afghanistan U19 recorded impressive victories in the ICC U19 Men's Cricket World Cup 2026, held in Zimbabwe and Namibia. On January 17, 2026, England's young Lions secured an emphatic eight-wicket win over host nation Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe, batting first, managed to score 208/9 in their 50 overs, with captain Simbarashe Mudzengerere contributing an unbeaten 45 runs. In response, England comfortably chased down the target in just 28 overs, largely due to excellent unbeaten knocks from Ben Mayes (77*) and captain Thomas Rew (86*). This victory helped England secure a place in the Super Six stage of the tournament. Meanwhile, Afghanistan U19 showcased a dominant all-round performance, defeating West Indies U19 by a massive 138 runs. Opting to bat first, Afghanistan posted a strong total of 262/6 in their allotted 50 overs, powered by half-centuries from Osman Sadat (88) and wicketkeeper-captain Mahboob Khan (86). The West Indies' chase faltered early, and they were eventually bundled out for just 124 runs. Nooristani (4/16), Wahid Zadran (3/36), and Khatir Stanikzai (3/20) were the standout bowlers for Afghanistan. These wins mark the second consecutive victories for both England and Afghanistan in the tournament, positioning them strongly in their respective groups. The 2026 ICC Under-19 Men's Cricket World Cup runs from January 15 to February 6, 2026.