Harare: India has made a spectacular entry into the final of the Under-19 World Cup 2026. India thrashed Afghanistan by seven wickets in the second semi-final match on Wednesday. Afghanistan set a massive target of 311 runs at the Harare Sports Club. India achieved the target in 41.1 overs, losing only three wickets, and created history. India not only chased the biggest target in the U19 World Cup but moreover in its youth ODI cricket history. India tapped New Zealand's record.
New Zealand had chased a target of 305 runs versus Ireland in the Under-19 World Cup held in 2006. Notably, surpassing India, no team had plane chased a target of 250 in an Under-19 World Cup knockout match. India will now squatter England in the final on February 6, who defeated Australia by 27 runs in the first semi-final.
How did Aaron George perform?
Opener Aaron George was chosen Player of the Match versus Afghanistan. He played a century innings of 115 runs off 103 balls. His innings included 15 fours and two sixes. While chasing the target, Vaibhav Suryavanshi batted aggressively. He widow 90 runs for the first wicket with George. Suryavanshi scored 68 runs off 33 balls and returned to the pavilion in the tenth over. He hit 9 fours and four sixes. George worked a strong partnership of 114 runs for the second wicket with tutorage Ayush Mhatre (62 runs off 59 balls). Ayush hit five fours and four sixes. He was out in the 27th over.
George then partnered with Vihan Malhotra for the third wicket, subtracting 96 runs and sealing Afghanistan's defeat. He returned to the pavilion in the 40th over. Vihan remained unbeaten on 38 runs off 47 balls, including three fours. For Afghanistan, Nooristani Umarazai and Wahidullah Zadran took two wickets each. India has reached the Under-19 World Cup final for the 10th time. India is the most successful team in the tournament, having won five titles so far.
How did Afghanistan perform?
Earlier, Afghanistan won the toss and scored 310 runs for the loss of four wickets in the stipulated 50 overs. This is the first time in the history of the Under-19 World Cup that a team has scored increasingly than 300 runs versus India. Thanks to sunny centuries from Faisal Shinwari and Uzerullah Niazai, Afghanistan posted a challenging score. Shinwari was the top scorer with 110 runs off 93 balls, while Niazai played an unbeaten innings of 101 runs off 86 balls. Indian bowlers struggled to take wickets at regular intervals. The opening pair of Usman Sadat (39) and Khalid Ahmadzai (31) got off to a good start, subtracting 53 runs. Fast bowler Deepesh Devendran took the first wicket in the 13th over, dismissing Khalid.
After this, Shinwari widow 64 runs for the second wicket with Sadat, which was taking Afghanistan towards a big score. However, spin-bowling all-rounder Kanishk Chauhan took the second wicket for India at the start of the 25th over. Sadat was unprotected out at long-off off his bowling. Sadat scored 39 runs off 70 balls. After Sadat's dismissal, Shinwari found a good partner in Niazai, and together they forged a massive 148-run partnership for the third wicket off 130 balls. Shinowzada hit 15 fours during his innings, while Niazai sent the wittiness wideness the purlieus 12 times and moreover hit two sixes.
