श्रीलंका अंडर-19 vs ऑस्ट्रेलिया अंडर-19, मैच 23 Commentary, Live Updates

And that brings us to the end of a one-sided affair, where Australia Under-19 brushed aside Sri Lanka Under-19 to carry all the points into the Super Six stage, while the Lankans now face a tougher road ahead. The action in the ICC Under-19 World Cup 2026 does not stop here, as we turn our attention to Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo for a heavyweight clash on 24th January, Saturday. Unbeaten India U-19 will take on New Zealand U-19, who have had two washouts so far, and that match could play a big role in shaping Group B. The game gets underway at 7.30 am GMT, and as always, you can join us early for all the build-up. Until then, cheers and goodbye.

Oliver Peake, the victorious skipper of Australia Under-19, expresses pride in his team for the clinical victory, describing it as a day when their plan fit perfectly into place, allowing them to achieve their goal without any issues. He emphasizes the importance of every player, including substitutes, highlighting that each one brings different skills to the team. Oliver then looks ahead to their next match against the Proteas, mentioning that they've already played them in the warm-up matches. He acknowledges that the Proteas have a strong bowling unit but is confident that his team will be ready to face them.

Vimath Dinsara, the captain of Sri Lanka Under-19, says that it was a disappointing performance. Adds that the Aussies bowled really well and it was not their day. Mentions that they are happy to go to the second round and will take it game by game. Ends by saying that they will give their best in the next game.

William Byrom is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his fantastic FIVE-FER. He starts by sharing the credit with his opening bowling partner, Charles Lachmund. Adds that before the game, they had a good chat with the team, and in the first hour, when they saw the wickets were coming, they just attacked more. He continues that they have worked really hard, and now it's just the results of the hard work. Ends up by saying it's a positive result for the team, and they will try to continue it further.

Presentation Time...

Earlier in the game, after being put in to bat, Sri Lanka Under-19 were bundled out for just 58, the lowest total of this World Cup. Only two batters, Kavija Gamage and Chamika Heentigala, reached double figures, with the latter top-scoring with 14, which sums up their struggles with the bat. Australia Under-19 were spot on from the very first ball and never eased off. William Byrom led the way with a magnificent five-for, while Charles Lachmund and Kasey Barton picked up two each, and Hayden Schiller chipped in with one to complete the demolition.

In the small chase, Sri Lanka briefly felt they had a chance when Rasith Nimsara knocked over Will Malajczuk in the first over, and the opening three overs were testing, with the ball moving both ways. However, a few too many extras released the pressure on the Aussies. From there, the calm heads of Nitesh Samuel and Steven Hogan ensured there were no further hiccups, stitching together a 58-run stand to get the job done.

Dominance might still not fully capture this performance from the Aussies! They finish top of the group, remain unbeaten, and send a strong message to the rest of the competition that the defending champions are well on track to defend their crown. Sri Lanka, meanwhile, will need to put this result behind them quickly before heading into the next round.

FOUR! Cheeky little shot to end the match! This is short of a length, around the sixth stump. Steven hangs back and just opens the face of his bat to steer it through short third for four runs. Australia Under-19 beat Sri Lanka Under-19 by 9 wickets and 38 overs to spare.

Fuller, around off, Steven defends it to the short extra cover.

Pitches it up, does Kavija, on off, Nitesh pushes it to wide of short extra cover for a single. SCORES LEVEL!

Much fuller, wide outside off, Samuel strides out and crouches low to drive it striaght at the cover fielder.

Pitches it up, on off, Nitesh Samuel lunges and drives it to cover.

Full, on middle, Steven nudges it from his front foot to mid on for one.

Full, on off, Nitesh pushes it to cover.

BYE! Short, on middle and leg. After the ball pitches on the deck it kicks off with a lot of bounce and beats flies over the helmet of the batter. The keeper does well to get some hands on it and the batter gets a bye.

Fuller, around the pads of the batter, Nitesh skips down the track once again and flicks it to the right of short mid-wicket for a single. The Aussies are one hit away from the win!

Tossed up, fuller, on middle, Nitesh skips down the track and pushes it to short cover.

Fuller, outside off, Nitesh stays back and pushes it to the left of the bowler.

Arm ball, angling down the leg side, Steven misses his flick on his back foot and thumps on his pad. The ball rolls toward fine leg and the batter gets a leg bye. Thar brings up the 50-run stand between these two batters.

Powerplay 2! Sri Lanka Under-19 can have four fielders outside the inner ring now, but with just 6 runs needed, we doubt they will keep them out.

A tad shorter, just outside off, Samuel pats it to cover.

Flat and fuller, around the sixth stump, Nitesh leans on the delivery and defends it away.

Flat and much fuller, on off, Steven jams it to the leg side and gets a single.

Short, around off, Hogan goes deep into the crease and tucks it past the square leg fielder for another brace.

Fuller, around off, Hogan gets down on one knee and slogs it over the mid on fielder for a couple of runs. 50 UP FOR THE AUSSIES!

FOUR! HAMMERED AWAY! Fractionally short, just outside off, turns away from the batter. Steven Hogan hangs back and opens his stance to pull it over the mid-wicket region region for four runs.

Short of a length on middle, Samuel hangs back and defends it down the track. Just 15 more needed for the Aussies.

Short, on midde, Steven Hogan tucks it to square leg for another single.

Quicker, shorter and on leg, Nitesh Samuel clips it through square leg for a single.

Short and around off, Nitesh Samuel punches it to extra cover.

Slows it up, full and around off, Nitesh Samuel uses his feet to push it away but gets an inside egde to the leg side.

Fuller, angling down the leg side, Samuel defends it to the leg side.

FOUR! Put away! Dragged back and well outside off, Steven Hogan gets the chance to free his arms and crunches it through point for a boundary.

Slight drizzle has started now, but the umpires are not stopping the game.

Short again and on middle and leg, Steven Hogan pats it towards short mid-wicket.

Another appeal for LBW, and this one looks even closer! Flatter, shortish and on middle, angling in, Steven Hogan tries to heave it with his front leg up but misses and gets hit on the pads. A bit unlucky for Akash to not get the decision.

Pushed through quicker, shortish and on off, skids through. Steven Hogan stays back to play at it but misses and gets hit high on the pads. A big shout for LBW, but turned down. Probably going just high.

A googly, short and on middle, turns in, Nitesh Samuel moves back and flicks it to deep square leg for a single.

Shorter in length and on middle, Nitesh Samuel pats it back to the bowler.

A big shout for caught behind, but turned down! Quicker, shortish and angling down the leg side. Steven Hogan looks to flick but misses as it brushes the pads on the way to the keeper.

Flighted, full and on off, Nitesh Samuel uses his feet and drills it wide of mid off for another run.

Tossed up, full and on off, Steven Hogan drives it towards long off for a run.

Short and on middle, Nitesh Samuel clips it off the back foot wide of mid-wicket for a single.

Flatter, full and on middle, angling in, Nitesh Samuel moves back and keeps it out to the leg side.

Floated, full and on off, Nitesh Samuel stays back and blocks it out.

Sri Lanka are ready to make their first change as Viran Chamuditha will offer some turn on the track.

Back of a length and on middle and leg, Steven Hogan pulls it away wide of deep backward square leg and comes back for the second run.

Sloppy fielding! Pitched up and on leg, Nitesh Samuel knocks it towards mid on, where Vigneshwaran Akash slides to his right but lets it through. Two fielders chase after it and work in tandem to stop it from going to the fence. Three taken.

Fuller and on middle, Nitesh Samuel blocks it out.

JUST OVER! Bangs this into the pitch, on middle, takes off a bit. Steven Hogan looks to pull it away but gets hurried and miscues it in the air towards mid-wicket. Dimantha Mahavithana does not quite leap and just gets both hishands above his head but the ball goes over. They cross. Half a chance.

Tip and run! Short of a length and on off, Nitesh Samuel rides the bounce and taps it in front short cover and scampers across for a run.

Fuller and around off, shaping away, Steven Hogan looks to push it but gets an outside egde that goes between gully and second slip for a single.

Hard length and angling into leg, Steven Hogan glances it away towards fine leg for a run. Australia Under-19 need 33 runs to win now.

Bangs in a good bouncer, on middle, Steven Hogan ducks under it.

A bit too full and on off, Nitesh Samuel strides out and drives it firmly past cover. It does not have enough legs to get to the fence but the batters get three runs.

Short of a length and around off, Nitesh Samuel opens the face of his bat and steers it away wide of deep third for a brace.

On a length and on middle, Steven Hogan clips it towards mid-wicket for a single.

Back of a length and on off, Steven Hogan pats it towards short cover.

Fuller in length and outside off, shaping away, Nitesh Samuel offers no shot at it.

That's a snorter! Bangs this into the pitch, on middle, takes off sharply. Nitesh Samuel hops up to ride the bounce but takes his eyes off the ball. He takes his bottom hand off the bat and manages to keep it out to the off side.

WIDE! Too many extras! Full but down the leg side, Nitesh Samuel lets it go. Another wide called.

Pitched up and on middle and off, nips back in a bit, Nitesh Samuel looks to play at it but gets an inside egde towards square leg.

Back of a length and around off, shapes away late, Nitesh Samuel has a little feel for it but is quick to withdraw his bat as the ball goes through to the keeper.

Good length and on off, Steven Hogan guides it past the diving gully fielder for a single.

Fuller and around off, shaping away, Steven Hogan pushes it towards short cover.

Full again and on off, Nitesh Samuel gets forward and steers it towards point.

Goes fuller and around off, Nitesh Samuel opens the face of his bat and drills it away but fails to beat point.

Hits the length hard and on middle, gets it to shape away. Nitesh Samuel stays back and tries to play at it but gets beaten on the outside edge and the ball hits him high on the pads. A shout for LBW, but turned down.

WIDE! Loses his radar again and bangs this into the pitch but down the leg sdie, Nitesh Samuel tries to hook it away but misses.

Full and on off, Steven Hogan drives it towards mid off and sets off for the run. The fielder picks up and has a shy at the bowler's end but misses. Hogan would have been home anyway.

Touch fuller and around off, Nitesh Samuel opens the face of his bat and guides it towards deep third for a single.

Back of a length and on off, Nitesh Samuel rides the bounce and pats it towards cover-point.

FIVE WIDES! No, no, no! This is a disaster for Sri Lanka Under-19. Rasith Nimsara completely loses his line and serves this full but way down the leg side. Nitesh Samuel leaves it alone. The keeper dives to his left but has no chance of stopping that as it rolls to the fine leg fence for a boundary.

Good length and on middle, shaping away late, Nitesh Samuel tries to defend it with a straight bat but gets an outside edge along the ground through backward point for a single.

Overpitched and around off, shaping away, Nitesh Samuel reaches out and squeezes it through point for a couple of runs.

WIDE! Pitched up but a bit too outside off this time, Nitesh Samuel is not interested in playing at that. Called a wide.

Short of a length and outside off again, Nitesh Samuel offer no shot at it.

Fuller in length and well outside off, shaping further away, Nitesh Samuel does not get tempted and lets it go to the keeper.

Back of a length and just outside off, Nitesh Samuel leaves it alone.

Oh..how did that miss the stumps? Kugathas Mathulan begins with a good-length delivery, on middle and off, nips it back in. Nitesh Samuel tries ot play at it but the ball zips past the inside edge and just goes over the stumps.

Who will share the new ball? Kugathas Mathulan it is!

Touch fuller, on off, shaping in sharply. Steven Hogan gets forward to defend but gets beaten on the inside edge as the ball hits the flap of his front pad. End of a terrific first over!

WIDE! Short of a length but down the leg side, Steven Hogan lets it go. Wided. Lanka cannot afford to give away extras here.

Steven Hogan walks up as the first down batter.

OUT! BOWLED'EM! Rasith Nimsara gets his man this time, and there is no need to rely on anyone else. He lands this on a good length and just on off, gets it to jag back in a long way. Will Malajczuk stays back and just has a waft at it, but fails to read the movement. He leaves a big gap between bat and pad as the ball goes through to rattle the stumps. Rasith is absolutely pumped up here and gives a send-off to Will, who does not like it but has to walk back. Australia Under-19 are 4/1, chasing 59 runs.

A yorker now, on middle, shaping in a bit too much, Will Malajczuk fails to tuck it away and gets hit on the pads. A shout for LBW, but turned down. Cleary going down the leg side.

FOUR! Will Malajczuk and the Aussies are up and running! Rasith Nimsara serves this full and just around off, no swing this time. Will extends his arms to reach out and drives it crisply through the cover region for a boundary.

Hits the length hard, on off, nips back in again, Will Malajczuk tries to push it away but gets an inside edge onto his pads.

Lovely bowling! Rasith Nimsara starts with a back-of-a-length delivery, on off, nips back in sharply. Will Malajczuk tries to punch it away but gets cut in half as the ball zips past the inside edge.