India thrashed Afghanistan by seven wickets in the first semi-final of the ICC Under-19 World Cup at Harare Sports Club on Wednesday, chasing 311 in just 41.1 overs to secure a record-extending 10th appearance in the final.
Aaron George anchored the run chase with an unbeaten 115 off 104 balls, while opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi provided explosive momentum with 68 off 33 balls in a 90-run opening stand. Captain Ayush Mhatre contributed 62 off 59, and Vihaan Malhotra finished unbeaten on 38 as India reached 311 for 3 with 53 balls to spare, the highest successful chase in Under-19 World Cup history.
Earlier, Afghanistan posted 310 for 4 after being sent in. Faisal Shinozada struck 110 off 93 balls (15 fours) and Uzairullah Niazai remained unbeaten on 101 off 86 balls (12 fours, 2 sixes). Their 148-run third-wicket partnership lifted Afghanistan from a promising platform.
Deepesh Devendran and Kanishk Chouhan took two wickets each for India, but the bowling unit struggled to break partnerships on a good batting surface.
Sooryavanshi set the tone in the powerplay, smashing boundaries at will despite being dropped once. George then took control with a composed, stroke-filled century that included powerful drives and pulls, ensuring no late collapse.
Also read: Unbeaten India firm favourites against Afghans in U-19 WC semis
Afghanistan missed two key chances in the field, a drop of Sooryavanshi early and another opportunity that went begging, which proved decisive.
India will face England in the final on Friday, aiming to lift the title for the sixth time and go back-to-back after losing the 2024 final to Australia.
Playing XIs
India: Aaron George, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Ayush Mhatre (capt), Vedant Trivedi, Vihaan Malhotra, Abhigyan Kundu (wk), RS Ambrish, Kanishk Chouhan, Khilan Patel, Henil Patel, Deepesh Devendran
Afghanistan: Osman Sadat, Khalid Ahmadzai, Faisal Shinozada, Uzairullah Niazai, Mahboob Khan (capt & wk), Azizullah Miakhil, Abdul Aziz, Khatir Stanikzai, Roohullah Arab, Nooristani Omarzai, Wahidullah Zadran
Scoredboard:
Afghanistan: 310-4
India U-19: 311-3 in 39.3 overs
Follow us
