.svg)
Key Takeaways
- 1đź“Š Afghanistan U19 beat Australia U19 by six wickets via DLS
- 2🏆 Sri Lanka U19 defended a DLS target to win by 12 runs
- 3đź’ˇ Asian sides adapted quickly to Windhoek conditions
- 4đź”® Early signs that traditional giants will be tested in 2026
"Afghanistan and Sri Lanka registered morale-boosting wins on Day 3 of warm-up fixtures in the lead-up to the ICC Under-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2026."
Afghan flair and Lankan grit lit up Day 3 of the ICC U19 Men's Cricket World Cup 2026 warm-ups as Afghanistan U19 toppled defending champions Australia U19, while Sri Lanka U19 edged past South Africa U19 in two rain-hit thrillers in Windhoek.
Afghanistan bloody Australia's nose in Windhoek
At the Wanderers Cricket Ground in Windhoek, Australia won the toss and chose to bat, but a sharp Afghanistan U19 attack made that call look adventurous within the first hour. New-ball seamer Abdul Aziz struck twice in the powerplay, while Wahidullah Zadran removed skipper Oliver Peake, leaving the Aussies reeling early and struggling to build momentum.
Australia’s much-vaunted batting, which dominated the 2024 edition, never quite broke free, repeatedly checked by disciplined lines and clever changes of pace. The total they scraped together always felt under-par on a decent surface.
In reply, Afghanistan’s top order showed admirable calm. Even as showers forced DLS into play, their batters never let the asking rate get out of control, rotating strike and punishing anything loose. A composed middle-order partnership ensured a six-wicket win, a massive psychological boost against the reigning world champions this close to the main event.
Sri Lanka edge South Africa in another DLS nail-biter
On the adjoining ground in Windhoek, Sri Lanka U19 and South Africa U19 played out another low-scoring scrap where every run felt golden. Sri Lanka’s young batters grafted hard to post a fighting total, constantly under pressure from South Africa’s pace and bounce.
Sri Lanka’s spinners then took over, operating like a throwback to classic youth World Cups – choking runs, forcing mistakes, and dragging the chase deep. With rain interruptions nudging the DLS par score around, South Africa were left just behind the curve, and Sri Lanka held their nerve to clinch a 12‑run win on the method.
For both Afghanistan and Sri Lanka, these are not just warm-up results; they are statements. On unfamiliar southern African surfaces, they have shown they can out-bowl and out-think traditional powerhouses – and the senior teams back home will be watching closely.
Related Stories
