Australia vs Zimbabwe U19 World Cup 2024: Live Cricket Score And Updates

Welcome back for the second essay! The two umpires make their way out to the centre followed by the players of Australia Under-19. They are joined by the two openers of Zimbabwe Under-19, Nathaniel Hlabangana and Panashe Taruvinga. Charlie Anderson will start with the new ball for Australia Under-19. Let's play...

... THE RUN CHASE ...

On the other hand, it was a bit of a disappointing inning for Zimbabwe Under-19, as their pacers failed to pick up early wickets but the spinner did a good job in the last 20 overs by striking regularly towards the second half of their bowling effort. They got their first breakthrough on the 19th over, all thanks to Brandon Sunguro. The bowlers were having a bit of trouble breaking the partnerships. But the spinners did a quality performance in the last 15 overs or so. At the end of the innings, Ryan Simbi and Brandon Sunguro picked up two wickets each for themselves. Matthew Schonken also chipped in with one.  The fielding of the team was decent too, but the bowling unit failed to make up the expectations of the cricketing fans. In the last two overs, the bowlers were way too substandard which cost them 30 runs. It will be a tough chase for the Chevron batters but anything can happen in this game.

Sam Konstas is in for a chat. He says that these were good conditions to bat on. Credits the way Harry Dixon and skipper, Hugh Weibgen batted and Tom Campbell for his late cameo. Mentions that adapting to the wickets has been challenging but this was a flat one. Says that he and Harry Dixon understand their game well and they try to keep it nice and simple. Shares that his mother is here to support him while his father and the two brothers are back home in Australia. Feels that 296 is a good score and backs his bowlers to defend the total.

A late flourish from Tom Campbell has Australia Under-19 finish on a high and they end up with 296 on the board! Having won the toss, every other skipper so far in the completion has opted to bowl but Hugh Weibgen made a surprising decision to bat first and their batters have vindicated that decision.  The batting unit had a lot of questions to answer after the performance against Namibia but this inning showed their class. The openers, Harry Dixon and Sam Konstas knocked a really firm and steady partnership off 91 runs but it ended on the 19th over. The skipper, Hugh Weibgen, came out to the middle at number 3 and held the situation pretty well and revived the strong partnership. Harry Dixon on the opposite end scored a half-century but his beautiful innings ended as he got dismissed on 89 runs, just 11 runs short of making the century. After that, the Aussies began to lose wickets in a flurry. But the partnership of 43 runs between Charlie Anderson and Tom Campbell, and a few blows of the latter at the end of the over helped the Aussies to score 296 runs to challenge the Chevron batters.

SIX! Make that 21 runs off the final over and Australia Under-19 finish with 296! Newman Nyamhuri bends his back and bangs it in short, over middle, Tom Campbell skips down the track and nails the pull. He hits flat and over deep square leg for six more runs. A cameo of pinch-hitting from Campbell as he remains unbeaten on 47.

FOUR! Smart batting! Slower low full toss, outside off, Tom Campbell walks right across his stumps and scoops it over short fine leg for a boundary. 15 runs off the over with a ball to go in the over!

WIDE! Sprays it down leg, on a back of a length, Tom Campbell swivels to pull but fails to get the connection. Wided.

SIX! Heaved away with ease! In the arc from Newman Nyamhuri, fuller and on the pads, Tom Campbell heaves it off his pads and clears the deep mid-wicket fence for a maximum.

Swing and a miss! Takes pace off and bowls it on a good length, over middle, Tom Campbell swings a bit early for the big shot and fails to connect. The ball lobs over the middle stump and dribbles towards the keeper.

FOUR! Oh, no! On a fullish length again, on middle, Tom Campbell clears his front leg and drills it to the left of long on. The fielder dives all over it and lets the ball slip under his body for a boundary.

Starts the final over well does Newman Nyamhuri! Nails the yorker, on off, Tom Campbell gets his bat down in time and digs it out to backward point.

Good finish to the over from Matthew Schonken! Quicker and a bit fuller, around off, Tom Campbell swings to go down the ground but misses out.

Tom Campbell comes out in the middle as number 9 for Australia Under-19

OUT! TAKEN! Matthew Schonken gets his man finally! End of a good little cameo from Charlie Anderson! Gives the ball air again but the line is on the pads, Charlie Anderson skips down the track and goes for a hoick across the line. He pays the price for hitting against the turn as he gets a top edge that lobs tamely towards backward point. Campbell Macmillan takes a few steps forward and completes the catch.

Good running! Short and on the pads, Charlie Anderson waits on it and tucks it with soft hands in front of deep square leg and comes back charging back for the second run.

Close but not close enough! Pulls his length back and bowls it around off, Charlie Anderson goes for the slog sweep again but the length is not that full and he misses out. The keeper, Ryan Kamwemba takes the bails off in a flash but Anderson has done well there to drag his back leg inside the crease just before the bails were taken off.

SIX! Hit with authority! In the slot from Matthew Schonken again, on off, Charlie Anderson picks up the length early and nails the slog sweep as he hits it towards the deep mid-wicket fence for a maximum.

In the air...but safe! Matthew Schonken serves it right in the slot, on middle, Tom Campbell gets down and goes for a slog sweep. Gets a top edge that goes high in the air but falls right between three converging fielders at the square leg region. A single taken.

Serves it on a good length now, on off, Charlie Anderson reaches out and pats it towards cover. Australia Under-19 are starting to get the finish they wanted!