The Zimbabwe Under-19 cricket team will be looking to put one foot into the quarter-finals at the on-going ICC World Cup in Bangladesh when they clash with giants England in a Group C tie at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong today.
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Zimbabwe, coached by Stephen Mangongo, kicked off their campaign with a seven-wicket demolition of debutants Fiji on Friday, and a win against the in-form group leaders, who have won both their opening matches, will boost chances of progressing. Of interest in this encounter is the presence of talented seamer Sam Curran, son of former Zimbabwe senior national cricket team coach, the late Kevin Curran, in the English team.
The Northampton-born Curran has been in jaw-dropping form with the ball helping England maintain a 100% record after the first two group games, picking three wickets for 22 in a 299 run win over Fiji on Wednesday.
He went on to record a 36-ball 39 run blitz with bat in a 60-run win over West Indies on Friday and snaring two wickets for 23 with ball.
Mangongo’s boys, who are currently in second place, summon five-wickets hero from the Fiji win, offspinner Wesley Madhevere and legspinner Blessing Mavuta to keep the marauding English batters in check.
England posted a humongous 372 total for Fiji before setting a challenging 282 to win for West Indies.
A huge win for Zimbabwe will put them in good stead to qualify for the quarter-finals ahead of a final group fixture against West Indies set for Tuesday.
