Sri Lanka registered a hard-fought win over Afghanistan in their first Super Six encounter of the ICC Men’s U19 World Cup 2026, played today (26th January) at Bulawayo.
After winning the toss, Sri Lanka opted to bowl first and were rewarded with a disciplined bowling performance that kept Afghanistan to a manageable total of 193. The Lankan bowlers applied consistent pressure, denying the Afghan batters the freedom to accelerate despite a few resistance efforts.
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Opening batter Osman Sadat was the standout performer for Afghanistan, anchoring the innings with a composed 61. However, regular breakthroughs prevented Afghanistan from building any significant partnerships. Viran Chamuditha and Kugathas Mathulan led Sri Lanka’s bowling effort, claiming two wickets apiece to halt the opposition’s progress.
Although the target appeared achievable on paper, Sri Lanka’s chase proved far from straightforward. Afghanistan struck at regular intervals, keeping the contest alive deep into the innings. Sri Lanka showed composure under pressure, steadily rebuilding after setbacks to stay on course.
Senuja Wekunagoda played a crucial hand with a top score of 43, while Dimantha Mahavithana added valuable support with 37. Their contributions ensured Sri Lanka remained in the hunt despite the mounting tension.
Sri Lanka eventually crossed the line in the 47th over, finishing with four wickets in hand to seal a crucial win in the Super Six stage.
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Sri Lanka will face South Africa in their second Super Six encounter of the tournament on the 29th January. All ICC Men’s U19 World Cup matches can be watched LIVE & EXCLUSIVELY on Dialog Television – the official broadcasting partner in Sri Lanka – through all ThePapare channels as well as on ThePapare.com and the Dialog ViU+ App.
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