Zimbabwe Under-19 endured a tough opening to their Super Six campaign at the ICC Under-19 World Cup in Bulawayo, suffering a heavy 204-run defeat to a powerful India side. While the result was a sobering one, there were still moments of promise for the Young Chevrons to take forward.
India posted an imposing 352 for 8, built around a composed unbeaten century from Vihaan Malhotra and valuable half-centuries from Abhigyan Kundu and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. Zimbabwe’s bowlers worked hard in testing conditions, with Tatenda Chimugoro leading the fight by claiming three wickets for 49 runs, providing brief moments of relief during an otherwise demanding innings.
Chasing a daunting 353, Zimbabwe’s reply faltered early as wickets fell inside the first ten overs. However, the innings found stability through a determined partnership between Kian Blignaut and Leeroy Chiwaula. Their stand brought much-needed resistance and showed the character within this young side.
Chiwaula, in particular, was a standout, playing with patience and maturity to register a well-earned 62 runs. His innings, compiled under immense pressure, was a reminder of the talent coming through Zimbabwe’s ranks. Blignaut also played his part with a gritty contribution before the innings began to unravel.
Despite a late collapse, which saw Zimbabwe lose their final wickets in quick succession, the experience gained against a top-quality opponent like India will be invaluable. Facing such high standards at this stage of the tournament is part of the learning curve.
With matches still to come, the focus for the Young Chevrons will be on building consistency and confidence. Performances like Chiwaula’s offer genuine hope that, even in defeat, Zimbabwe’s future remains bright.
