HARARE - The Zimbabwe Under-19 cricket team posted a moral boosting three-wicket victory over Australia in a Youth World Cup warm-up match Monday at Sheikh Zayed Stadium Nursery 1 in Abu Dhabi.
Both teams were using the match to fine tune for the International Cricket Council (ICC) Under-19 Cricket World Cup which is set to start in the United Arab Emirates on Friday.
Zimbabwe, who are in Group D together with Canada, New Zealand and Sri Lanka, were asked to field first after losing the toss.
Walter Chawaguta’s teenagers were able to restrict Australia to 195 all out after 46.1 overs.
Number three batsman Joram Morgan (36) and Cameron Valente not out with 34 top-scored for the Aussies.
Spinners Deven Bell and Hebert Chikomba were the pick of the Zimbabwe bowlers with three and two wickets respectively.
Mhkululi Nyathi and Kieran Geyle picked up a wicket apiece.
In their chase, Zimbabwe reached the target of 196 for the fall of seven wickets inside 48.3 overs.
Middle order batsman Ryan Burl top scored for Zimbabwe with 60. Burl reached his half century from 106 balls before he was caught behind by Jake Doran off the bowling of James Bazley.
Malcolm Lake took Zimbabwe over the crossing line with a couple of boundaries as he finished unbeaten on 18.
Zimbabwe conclude their warm-up matches with a clash against the United Arab Emirates in Dubai on Wednesday before taking on Canada on Friday in their first pool match.
Meanwhile, Zimbabwe and Namibia are the two most experienced sides at the World Cup, according to the ICC.
Namibia and Zimbabwe have selected five with previous ICC CWC experience for this years’ tournament.
Captain Malcolm Lake, Ryan Burl, Kieran Geyle, Luke Jongwe and Cuthbert Musoko were all in the Zimbabwe team that participated at the last edition in Australia two years ago.