The 2024 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup is well underway in South Africa, with exciting matches and impressive individual performances keeping fans on the edge of their seats. As we reach the halfway stage of the group matches, let’s take a look at some of the key takeaways so far:

India Starts Strong, But Ireland Pushes Back

Defending champions India began their campaign with a dominant win against Sri Lanka, before facing a sterner test against Ireland. India posted a strong total of 301 runs batting first, with opener Angkrish Raghuvanshi scoring a brilliant century. However, the Irish bowlers fought back well, restricting India to a manageable total. In reply, Ireland openers Harry Tector and William Porterfield laid a solid foundation, and despite losing wickets at regular intervals, they kept themselves in the hunt. The match is currently in a break, with Ireland needing 72 runs with 5 wickets remaining.

Australia Edges Past Zimbabwe in a Thriller

Australia faced a scare against Zimbabwe in their opening match. Batting first, Australia was bundled out for 296 runs, with Zimbabwe’s Tanaka Chivanga picking up a five-wicket haul. In reply, Zimbabwe started cautiously but built partnerships throughout the innings. With wickets in hand and the target within reach, a tense finish was on the cards. However, Australia’s bowlers held their nerve, taking wickets at crucial junctures to secure a narrow victory.

Pakistan and West Indies Maintain Winning Starts

Pakistan continued their good form with a convincing win over Nepal. Opener Azan Awais starred with a brilliant century, while the bowlers skittled out Nepal for 197 runs. West Indies also maintained their unbeaten run, defeating Scotland by 5 wickets. Jewel Andrew’s all-round performance was key for the Windies, as he scored a half-century and took two wickets.

Other Notable Performances

There have been several other individual performances that have caught the eye in the tournament so far. Sri Lanka’s Supun Waduge scored a fighting century against Namibia, while England’s George Thomas impressed with his all-round abilities against Canada.