Brainfade in Harare: England Stun Asian Champions Pakistan by 38 Runs in U19 World Cup Opener

Cricket is a game of glorious uncertainties, but sometimes, it is a game of glorious mistakes.

In what was arguably the most anticipated clash of the ICC Under-19 World Cup 2026 opening week, England U19 pulled off a gritty, spirited, and slightly lucky 38-run victory over the reigning Asian Champions, Pakistan U19, at the Takashinga Sports Club in Harare.

Entering the tournament on a massive high after demolishing India by 191 runs in the Asia Cup final last month, Pakistan were the overwhelming favorites. They did the hard work by bowling England out for a modest 210. But what followed was a batting capitulation and a finish so bizarre it will likely be replayed on social media for years to come.

The “Brainfade” That Ended It All

Matches are often remembered for centuries or five-wicket hauls. This one will be remembered for a moment of madness.

With Pakistan reeling but still fighting, needing 38 runs from 24 balls with just one wicket in hand, the tension was palpable. The equation was tough but not impossible in the age of T20 cricket. Ali Raza, batting at the tail, faced up to England’s Manny Lumsden.

Raza let the ball pass through to the keeper—a standard leave. But then, in a moment of complete lapse of concentration, he wandered out of his crease, seemingly assuming the ball was dead or perhaps just not thinking at all.

The England wicketkeeper, sharp as a hawk, didn’t hesitate. He whipped the bails off in a flash. Raza was miles out. There was no appeal needed; the umpire raised the finger, and the English players erupted in ecstasy. It was an anticlimactic and slightly comical end to a serious contest. Pakistan were bowled out for 172, handing England a 38-run victory.

It was a dismissal reminiscent of the Alex Carey-Jonny Bairstow incident in the Ashes, a stark reminder to young cricketers: Stay in your crease until the umpire calls over.

The First Innings: Pakistan Bowlers Dominate, Batters Flop

Earlier in the day, Pakistan captain Farhan Yousaf won the toss and elected to bowl, hoping to exploit the morning conditions in Harare. The decision seemed to pay dividends as the Pakistani pace attack, led by the impressive Ali Raza (before his batting blunder) and Huzaifa Ahsan, kept the English batters on a leash.

England’s innings never truly gathered momentum. They lost wickets at regular intervals, struggling to build significant partnerships against a disciplined Pakistani attack.

• The Struggle: England were bundled out for 210 in what looked like a below-par score on a decent track.
• The Silver Lining: While 210 wasn’t a mountain, it was a total that gave their bowlers something to bowl at. In low-scoring U19 games, 200+ is often a psychological barrier, and England knew if they fielded well, they were in the game.

The Chase: The Asian Champions Crumble

Chasing 211 should have been a walk in the park for a team that had just scored heavily against India in the Asia Cup. However, World Cup pressure is a different beast.

Pakistan’s batting lineup, which looked so imperious just weeks ago, looked jittery against the moving ball. England’s pacers, particularly Alex Green and Sebastian Morgan, bowled with hostility and precision.

• Top Order Collapse: Pakistan lost early wickets, putting pressure on the middle order.
• No Anchors: Unlike their Asia Cup campaign where batsmen converted starts, here, panic set in. The run rate kept climbing, not because the target was huge, but because the dot balls kept piling up.
• The Collapse: From a position of relative stability, Pakistan lost clumps of wickets. The English fielding was electric, squeezing every single run and creating chances out of nowhere.

By the time the final overs approached, Pakistan were reduced to their tail-enders, leaving Ali Raza to fight a lonely and ultimately doomed battle.

The “Group of Death” Dynamics

This result throws Group C wide open. The group features:

• Pakistan
• England
• Zimbabwe (Hosts)
• Scotland

With the top three teams qualifying for the Super Six, Pakistan is not out of the tournament, but their margin for error has vanished. Losing to England—their toughest rival in the group—means they likely cannot afford a slip-up against the hosts Zimbabwe or Scotland.

For England, these two points are gold dust. Beating the Asian Champions gives them one foot in the Super Six and a massive net run rate boost.

Key Takeaways and Stats

• England’s Resilience: Defending 210 requires character. Captain Thomas Rew marshaled his troops brilliantly, never letting heads drop even when partnerships formed.
• Pakistan’s Reality Check: Complacency might have been an issue. Coming off a 191-run win over India, this loss will serve as a wake-up call that the World Cup is a clean slate.
• The Venue: Takashinga Sports Club proved to be a sporting wicket, offering assistance to bowlers who bent their backs but rewarding batters who applied themselves.

What They Said

While official post-match presentations are yet to be transcribed fully, the body language spoke volumes.

• Thomas Rew (England Captain): Ecstatic. He was seen gathering his team in a huddle, celebrating what is arguably England U19’s best win in recent times.
• Farhan Yousaf (Pakistan Captain): Visibly dejected. The manner of the defeat—a batting collapse followed by a run-out blunder—will be hard to swallow.

Squads Overview

Pakistan U19: Sameer Minhas, Mohammad Shayan (wk), Usman Khan, Ahmed Hussain, Farhan Yousaf (c), Huzaifa Ahsan, Hamza Zahoor, Ali Raza, Mohammad Sayyam, Niqab Shafiq, Abdul Subhan, Umar Zaib, Momin Qamar, Ali Hassan Baloch, Daniyal Ali Khan.

England U19: Ben Dawkins, Joseph Moores, Ben Mayes, Thomas Rew (wk/c), Caleb Falconer, Farhan Ahmed, Ali Farooq, Alex French, Manny Lumsden, Luke Hands, Ralphie Albert, Isaac Mohammed, James Minto, Alex Green, Sebastian Morgan.

What’s Next?

Pakistan must regroup immediately. They face Scotland in their next fixture, a match they must win convincingly to fix their Net Run Rate. England will take on hosts Zimbabwe, knowing a win there virtually secures their top spot in the group.

For now, the headlines belong to England, and the replays belong to that unfortunate moment at the striker’s end. A reminder that in cricket, the game isn’t over until the bails are off—or in this case, until you stay inside your crease.