Mayes blazes trail for victorious England while Nooristani inspires in-form Afghanistan

Ben Mayes smashed 191 as England defeated Scotland by 252 runs to complete an unbeaten group stage at the ICC u19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2026.

Mayes’ knock was the highest by an Englishman in the history of this competition and just one run adrift of the all-time record, which was set on Saturday by Sri Lanka’s Viran Chamuditha.

Afghanistan also made it three wins from three with a nine-wicket win over Tanzania, Nooristani Omarzai taking five wickets.

Mayes makes hay as England beat Scotland

Scotland chose to bowl upon winning the toss in Harare and though Finlay Jones picked up the early scalp of Ben Dawkins, it was a long day in the field thereafter.

Mayes did the majority of the damage with his stunning century, first forming a 188-run stand with Joe Moores, who made 81 from 65 balls.

Hampshire starlet Mayes continued the onslaught and looked set to surpass Chamuditha in the record books only to edge a switch hit behind, wicketkeeper Thomas Knight taking a fantastic catch standing up to the stumps, to depart for 191 from 117 balls, with 18 fours and eight sixes.

Caleb Falconer (32) and Sebastian Morgan (24 not out) took England to 404 for six, the highest total in this tournament so far and the sixth highest in competition history, with Jake Woodhouse (3/88) the pick of the attack.

Scotland’s reply suffered a setback when they lost both openers in successive balls either side of the end of the 11th over, leaving them 38 for two.

Finlay Carter (34) and Max Chaplin (22) made starts but wickets continued to fall at regular intervals, Falconer (3/19) finishing the job as Scotland were bowled out for 152 in the 45th over.

Irresistible Nooristani inspires Afghanistan

Afghanistan ensured they will enter the Super 6 stage as Group D winners with a nine-wicket win over Tanzania.

Nooristani Omarzai was the destroyer-in-chief with the ball, taking five for nine from seven overs as Tanzania were bowled out for 85.

Three of those wickets came in his first over back in the attack, when Tanzania were 68 for six, as the tail subsided.

Just three batters made it into double figures, Agustino Mwamele top-scoring with 14 before he was run out, while there were 25 extras – including 19 wides.

Afghanistan needed just 12.4 overs to knock off the runs, Faisal Khan striking nine fours and a six in his unbeaten 55 from 34 balls.

Opener Osman Sadat added 16 not out to help his side to a comfortable victory, tournament debutants Tanzania finishing with three defeats from three.

Scores in brief

England v Scotland – Takashinga Sports Club, Harare

England 404/6 in 50 overs (Ben Mayes 191, Joe Moores 81; Jake Woodhouse 3/88, Finlay Jones 2/50)

Scotland 152 all out in 44.5 overs (Finlay Carter 34, Max Chaplin 22; Caleb Falconer 3/19, Manny Lumsden 2/17)

Result: England won by 252 runs

Afghanistan v Tanzania – High Performance Oval, Windhoek

Tanzania 85 all out in 36 overs (Agustino Mwamele 14, Rehaan Ahtif 11; Nooristani Omarzai 5/9, Uzairullah Niazai 2/9)

Afghanistan 88/1 in 12.4 overs (Faisal Khan 55 not out, Osman Sadat 16 not out; Khalidy Amiri 1/32)

Result: Afghanistan won by nine wickets

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