Australia and Bangladesh Seal Super Six Progress in U19 World Cup

Australia underlined its authority over the tournament with a crushing nine-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in Windhoek. The defending champions first dismantled Sri Lanka’s batting lineup, dismissing them for just 58 in 18.5 overs after a relentless bowling display.

Will Byrom led the charge with a sensational five-wicket haul, while Charles Lachmund provided an early breakthrough as Sri Lanka collapsed to 3 for 3 inside the opening four overs. The pressure never eased, and Sri Lanka struggled to recover as wickets fell at regular intervals. Chamika Heenatigala was the lone bright spot with 14 off 21 balls, but support was scarce throughout the innings.

In reply, Australia wasted little time in chasing down the modest target. Australia completed the chase in just 12 overs, with only one wicket lost. Nitesh Samuel contributed a patient 19 from 40 balls, while Steven Hogan provided momentum with a fluent 28 off 27 deliveries, including three boundaries. Rasith Nimsara claimed the only wicket for Sri Lanka, but the result was never in doubt.

The win ensured Australia U19 finished Group A unbeaten, registering three victories from three matches and carrying strong momentum into the next phase.

From Group B, Bangladesh sealed their place in the Super Six stage with a convincing seven-wicket win over the USA. Batting first, USA posted 199 from 50 overs, led by Adnit Jhamb’s steady 68 off 69 balls. Bangladesh’s bowlers shared the workload effectively, with Iqbal Hossain Emon taking three wickets. In reply, Bangladesh chased the target in 41.3 overs, guided by captain Azizul Hakim’s composed 64 and Zawad Abrar’s brisk 47, remaining firmly in control throughout.

Australia’s flawless group-stage performance and Bangladesh’s clinical execution highlight the growing gap between the tournament’s strongest sides and the rest. As the ICC U19 World Cup moves into the Super Six stage, both teams will look to build on these dominant displays and push deeper into the competition.