Harare: India produced a sensational performance in the Men’s Under-19 One-Day World Cup to qualify for the final for the 10th time. India have won the title five times and finished runners-up on four occasions.
In Harare, Zimbabwe, India successfully chased down a massive target of 311 runs against Afghanistan in just 41.1 overs, losing only three wickets — with 53 balls and seven wickets to spare. This is now the highest successful run chase in Under-19 World Cup history, as India created a new record. Ahmedabad’s Vedant Trivedi, unbeaten on five, scored the winning run.
Opener Aaron George (115 off 104 balls, 2 sixes, 15 fours) was the superstar of the victory. He was dismissed in the 40th over after taking India past the 300-run mark. With this semifinal win, India will now take on England in the final on Friday, February 6 (from 1:00 PM) in Harare.
After losing Vaibhav Suryavanshi (68 off 33 balls, 4 sixes, 9 fours), Aaron George and captain Ayush Mhatre (62 off 59 balls, 4 sixes, 5 fours) added a crucial 114-run partnership for the second wicket. Like Suryavanshi, Mhatre laid a strong foundation before getting out.
Following Mhatre’s dismissal, Vihan Malhotra (38* off 47 balls, 3 fours) joined George at the crease. Later, Vihan and Vedant Trivedi stitched together an unbeaten 11-run partnership to steer India home. For Afghanistan, Nuristani Omarzai took the most wickets with two.
Earlier, Afghanistan, after opting to bat, posted 310 runs for four wickets in 50 overs, setting India a daunting target of 311. At one stage, it seemed the chase could be difficult. However, India’s hard-hitting and reliable batting line-up — strong right up to No. 6 or 7 — once again proved its strength and delivered under pressure.
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Afghanistan’s Faisal Shinozada (110 off 93 balls) and Uzairullah Niazai (101* off 86 balls) struck centuries and made India’s task tougher. The duo shared a 148-run partnership for the third wicket.
For India, Deepesh Devendran and Kanishk Chauhan picked up two wickets each, while Henil Patel, Khilan Patel, R.S. Ambarish and captain Ayush Mhatre went wicketless.
Notably, England reached the final after defeating defending champions Australia in Tuesday’s semifinal.
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