England Under-19s Dominate Bangladesh In World Cup Clash

England Under-19 put on a commanding performance to secure a seven-wicket victory over Bangladesh Under-19 in the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup 2026 Super Six stage, played at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo on January 26, 2026. This result not only highlighted England’s growing dominance at the youth level but also confirmed Bangladesh’s early exit from the tournament, marking the third consecutive World Cup where the Junior Tigers have failed to reach the semi-finals since their historic 2020 triumph.

Coming into this must-win encounter, Bangladesh faced an uphill battle. Their Super Six campaign began with just one point—courtesy of a group-stage loss to India and a washout against New Zealand—while England started with a significant four-point advantage. Winning against the Young Lions was imperative for Bangladesh to keep their semi-final hopes alive, but the pressure proved too much for the side.

Opting to bat first, Bangladesh’s decision quickly backfired. The innings never quite gained momentum after opener Jawad Abrar fell in the very first over. The only substantial resistance came through a 46-run partnership for the second wicket between Rifat Beg, who top-scored with 31, and captain Azizul Hakim Tamim, who added 20. Once English spinner Farhan Ahmed broke the stand, the Bangladeshi batting order unraveled alarmingly. Wicketkeeper Mohammad Abdullah chipped in with a gritty 25, but no other batter managed to cross the 20-run mark. The disciplined England attack, spearheaded by Sebastian Morgan (3 for 28), Manny Lumsden, and Ralphie Albert, ensured that Bangladesh were bowled out for a modest 136 in just 38.1 overs.

Reflecting on his team’s performance, Bangladesh captain Azizul Hakim Tamim didn’t mince words. “A total of 137 was not good enough on this wicket,” he admitted, acknowledging the mistakes made and emphasizing the need for a much-improved batting display in the future. Tamim also highlighted that the team is still in a learning phase, hoping these hard lessons will pay off in coming matches.

Despite the low total, Bangladesh’s bowlers showed plenty of fight. Al Fahad provided early hope by removing England opener Joseph Moores—thanks to a sharp catch by Swadhin Islam after a previous drop by Samiun Basir Ratul—and later dismissed Ben Dawkins, who had looked promising with a fluent 27 from 29 balls. Samiun Basir Ratul also chipped in with a wicket, but their efforts were ultimately in vain as England’s chase rarely looked in doubt.

England’s run chase, set at 137, started with a couple of early hiccups. Yet, the nerves were quickly settled by a crucial partnership between captain Thomas Rew and Ben Mayes. Dawkins’ early aggression gave way to a measured approach by Mayes, who contributed a solid 34 from 50 deliveries. The defining moment, however, belonged to Rew. The English skipper led from the front with a masterclass in controlled aggression, scoring an unbeaten 59 from just 50 balls. His knock included a mix of textbook strokes and confident sweeps, particularly against the spinners, and he remained at the crease to see his side home.

Rew’s partnership with Ben Mayes, worth 78 runs, effectively sealed Bangladesh’s fate. The English captain’s approach was as much about enjoyment as it was about efficiency. “We prioritized enjoyment over haste, which paved the way for the clinical partnerships that secured the win,” Rew said at the post-match presentation. He also praised his team’s bowling and fielding efforts on a dry, spinning track, noting, “The bowlers were unbelievable today and restricting Bangladesh to under 140 was a fantastic effort. Our fielding has really improved thanks to the hard work with our coaching staff.”

Notably, Rew’s all-round contributions as captain, wicket-keeper, and batsman have become a hallmark of this England side’s campaign. When asked about balancing these responsibilities, the skipper replied, “I enjoy taking on spinners with the sweep shot, and balancing captaincy, wicket-keeping, and batting is something I’m comfortable with.”

England’s dominance was clear in the way they chased down the target, reaching 137 for 3 in just 24.1 overs with 155 balls to spare. The final moments were emblematic of their control: Caleb Falconer joined Rew at the crease after Mayes’ late dismissal and finished the match in style, sweeping a full-length delivery from Samiun Basir Ratul to the square leg boundary for four. The scoreboard read England 137/3, Bangladesh 136 all out—an emphatic result.

For Bangladesh, the defeat was a bitter pill to swallow. Their exit before the semi-finals continues a frustrating trend since their title-winning run six years ago. The Junior Tigers will now turn their attention to a consolation match against Zimbabwe in Harare on January 31 before heading home to regroup and reflect.

England, meanwhile, look every bit the title contenders. Their blend of disciplined bowling, sharp fielding, and composed batting has made them a force in this year’s Super Six stage. The squad will take a well-deserved break before resuming training, with their eyes firmly set on a deep run into the knockout rounds.

As the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup 2026 continues, fans can expect more high-octane action. The next day’s play is set to begin at 7:30 am GMT on January 27, with teams jostling for a place in the semi-finals. For England, the path ahead looks promising; for Bangladesh, it’s back to the drawing board—but with plenty of lessons learned and new talents on the rise, the future might just hold brighter days for the Junior Tigers.