Amrinder Singh Gill showed his performance as the leading scorer at the U19 World Cup Regional Qualifier in Georgia this past August was no fluke as he produced a century against hosts Zimbabwe in USA U19's first warm-up match ahead of the U19 World Cup. 

File photo credit: Peter Della Penna

By Peter Della Penna (Twitter/X @PeterDellaPenna)
 
Opening batter Amrinder Singh Gill’s century was one of several noteworthy performances turned in by the USA U19 squad in a pair of ICC warm-up matches against Zimbabwe and Pakistan in this week’s buildup to the official start of the 2026 ICC Men’s U19 World Cup in Zimbabwe. 
 
Gill scored an even 100 off 118 balls on Saturday against Zimbabwe, including 15 fours, in USA’s total of 174 for 4 before play was stopped by rain after 33.2 overs as the match ultimately ended there with no result. Gill shared a 98-run third-wicket partnership with USA U19 captain Utkarsh Srivastava, who made 30 off 42 balls at No. 4. 
 
Gill brought up his century in 113 balls off the final ball of the 30^th over with his 15^th and final boundary. The partnership with Srivastava then ended one ball later at the start of the 31^st over when Srivastava fell lbw to Dhruv Patel. After Gill became bogged down across the next few overs, the same bowler dismissed the centurion in the 33^rd over, just four balls before everyone was taken off the field for rain. 
 
USA had originally been scheduled to play England at Harare in their other official warm-up match. But due to logistical issues involving travel from Harare to Bulawayo for USA’s Group B opener against India on Thursday, the schedule was rearranged to have them play Pakistan at Bulawayo on Tuesday. 
 
Pakistan phenom Sameer Minhas blitzed USA’s bowling attack for 74 off 55 balls, including eight fours and four sixes, before retiring out as Pakistan produced an imposing total of 294 for 8 in an eventual 69-run win. Minhas was the dominant partner in a 105-run opening partnership with Mohammad Shayan, who scored at less than a third of the pace of Minhas in making 23 off 56 balls. Minhas had seen enough after 17 overs and retired out at the first drinks break rather than carrying on for a possible century. 
 
Pakistan’s middle order batted in relatively sedate fashion before a furious finish from Ali Hassan Baloch, who blasted 36 off 19 balls including three sixes after entering at No. 8 with eight overs to go. Ahmad Hussain also made a solid contribution with 43 off 62 balls before he also retired. Srivastava claimed Baloch and two others to finish with 3 for 26 in six overs of offspin. 
 
Left-arm spinner Adit Kappa took 2 for 56 in nine overs while Sabrish Prasad took 1 for 18 in five overs of offspin. Allrounder Shiv Shani was the only pace bowler to take a wicket, claiming 1 for 36 off five overs. 
 
Gill followed up his century against Zimbabwe by making 18 off 26 balls as part of a 45-run opening stand alongside Sahil Garg before Gill fell in the eighth over. But Garg powered on to make a top score of 75 off 83 balls, including nine fours and a six. That included a 66-run third-wicket partnership with Srivastava, who made another solid start with 36 off 42 balls before he fell at the end of the 26^th over to end the stand. USA’s middle-overs slide of three wickets for 23 runs across four overs ended when Garg perished with two balls to go in the 30^th. Nitish Sudini was the only other USA batter to make a significant contribution, adding 34 off 40 balls with three fours and a six before he was ninth out with the score on 215 in the 43^rd over. The match ended nine balls later when Sahir Bhatia was dismissed by Hussain for 14. 
 
Hussain took 2 for 22 in 2.5 overs for Pakistan in the field after his knock in the first innings. Momin Qamar took 2 for 24 and Abdul Subhan claimed 2 for 27 off of seven overs each. 
 
USA’s Group B opener against India will start on Thursday at 9:30 am in Zimbabwe, 2:30 am on USA’s east coast.