HARARE: Pakistan registered their first win of the ongoing ICC Men’s U19 World Cup 2026 by beating Scotland by six wickets at the Takashinga Sports Club, Highfield on Monday.
Chasing 188, openers Samir Minhas and Ali Hasan Baloch put on a solid partnership to reach the target in the 44th over.
Ali Hasan scored 15 runs off 33 balls, including a boundary, as Ally Jones bowled Pakistan to 43-1 in 9.4 overs.
On the first delivery of the 12th over, Jones came back to bat as Pakistan lost their second wicket, smashing the dangerous Samir Minhas for 28 off 30 balls, including 3 fours.
Usman Khan and Ahmed Hussain then combined, steadily adding crucial runs and forming a strong third wicket partnership.
The duo added 50 runs, easing the pressure and setting the stage for Pakistan to chase down the target with ease, past 100 runs.
Usman was in fine form, playing sensibly for the green shirts and guiding his team closer to victory with a half-century.
The 111-run partnership was finally broken when Manu Saraswat took the prize wicket of Usman Khan, whose 85-ball 75, including 5 fours and 2 sixes, sent the team to 159-3 in 38.1 overs.
Hussain was closing in on his third youth ODI half-century but was soon dismissed by Saraswat for 47 off 92 balls, including 3 fours.
Captain Farhan Yousaf remained unbeaten on 18 off 11 balls, while Husayfa remained unbeaten on 9 balls.
After being asked to bat first, Scotland suffered an early setback as fast bowler Ali Raza struck in the opening over, dismissing both openers – Theo Robinson for four off two balls and Max Chaplin for two.
Captain Thomas Knight and Rory Grant steadied the innings, adding valuable runs and taking the total past 50.
Their partnership was broken when Momin removed Qamar Grant for a crucial 21 off 45 balls, including a boundary, to leave Scotland 59-3 in 16.5 overs.
A few overs later, Momin again claimed his second wicket, taking Finley Carter for 12 off 16 balls with the help of two fours.
Knight and Ollie Jones combined to rebuild the innings as Scotland passed 100 in the 26th over.
However, at 115-5 in 28.4 overs, the 40-run stand came to an end when Ali Raza hit the stumps and returned to dismiss Jones in a crucial 30 off 35 balls.
Scotland came under more pressure in the next over as Momin Qamar took the prized wicket of captain Knight’s top score of 37 off 72 balls, including 3 fours.
Manu Saraswat and Finlay Jones added a tussle of 50 for the seventh wicket that helped Scotland recover and push towards a match total.
Scotland were 173-7 in 42.4 overs when Ali Raza picked up his fourth wicket, dismissing Finlay Jones for 33 off 56 balls with two sixes.
Mohammed Syam then joined the attack and picked up his first wicket, removing set batsman Saraswat, who scored a crucial 25 off 36 balls, including a six.
Ethan Ramsey was run out by wicketkeeper Hamza Zahoor for 5 off 15 balls to become the ninth batsman, Jack Woodhouse was the last to be dismissed, two off four balls off the bowling of Abdul Subhan.
For Pakistan, Ali Raza led the bowling with impressive figures of 4/37 from his 10 overs. Momin Qamar took 3 wickets and Mohammad Syam and Abdul Subhan took one wicket each.