Islamabad, The opening day of warm-up games for the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup was significantly disrupted by rain, leading to the abandonment of three out of four scheduled matches. Despite the inclement weather, the brief periods of play that were possible showcased promising talent and competitive spirit among the young cricketers.

According to International Cricket Council, the match between South Africa and Pakistan was one of those affected, with Pakistan setting a target of 212 runs before rain halted South Africa’s response at just 8.3 overs into their innings. Pakistan’s innings was marked by notable performances, including a rapid 37 off 16 balls by Ubaid Shah and a three-wicket haul by South Africa’s Kwena Maphaka.

The game between the USA and Namibia also fell victim to the weather, with the USA posting a solid total of 268 thanks to a century from Siddarth Kappa. Namibia’s chase was cut short by the rain, ending any possibility of a result.

India versus Australia was another match that saw no completion, with India managing to put up a total of 171, largely thanks to Uday Saharan’s captain’s innings of 74 runs. Australia’s chase was troubled early on, and the match was called off with the team struggling at 53 for 4.

The day’s only conclusive match saw Nepal overcoming Scotland by seven wickets, courtesy of a disciplined bowling performance led by Gulshan Jha and Tilak Bhandari, each taking three wickets. Nepal’s successful chase was anchored by solid innings from Arjun Kumal and Aakash Tripathi, achieving the target set by Scotland’s initial total of 114.

These warm-up fixtures are crucial for the teams to fine-tune their strategies and line-ups ahead of the highly anticipated tournament, despite the unpredictable weather playing a significant role in the day’s proceedings.