England kept their nerve to alter into the predominant group to reach the ICC Under 19 Men’s Cricket World Cup closing after edging a thriller with Afghanistan by 15 runs.
Spinner Rehan Ahmed became the hero for the Young Lions, taking three wickets within the penultimate over at a crucial level when their opponents fundamental excellent 18 runs from the closing 10 balls.
England will now face the winner of the other semi between Australia and India on Saturday within the closing – a mighty turnaround from the outdated tournament excellent two years within the past in South Africa when they carried out ninth.
As for Afghanistan, they’ll head to the Coolidge Cricket Ground for the third-put playoff.
Rain delayed the predominant of the two Immense League semi-finals on the Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Ground after England obtained the toss and chose to bat. As soon as each and every facets had been at closing in a field to determine to the field in Antigua and Barbuda it used to be Afghanistan who made the stronger initiate.
Jacob Bethell, who lit up the quarter-closing tie with 88 against South Africa closing week, used to be trapped LBW by Naveed Zadran, an early ticket that England faced a refined job.
The type forward for cricket in stable hands #U19CWC pic.twitter.com/g5AALGqwA3— ICC (@ICC) February 1, 2022
Skipper Tom Prest then joined vice-captain Bethell in making an early departure, lowering them to 2-56, because the Young Lions struggled to pronounce with the bat. George Thomas did proper the ship with an very excellent 50 after a a bit of nervy introduction on the crease, most keen overwhelmed by an very excellent supply from Noor Ahmad.
And when William Luxton used to be trim bowled by Izharulhaq Naveed, Prest’s group used to be 5 wickets down having barely build 100 runs on the board. On the other hand, the rain came again to extend play for a extra half of-hour and resulted in revised stipulations of 47 overs per aspect.
England’s wait on-cease partnership of 95 from George Bell and Alex Horton then managed to construct a abnormal dynamic on their innings. The duo attacked the Afghanistan seamers fiercely which managed to prime the closing total as much as 231.
The sooner interruptions from the weather supposed Afghanistan had a revised DLS purpose to compare this rating and chasing their first-ever ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup closing, they knew an real initiate used to be fundamental to take regulate of the game.
Opener Nangeyalia Kharote used to be unable to produce it when English seamer Josh Boyden claimed his wicket with excellent the third ball of the innings.
However Kharote’s alternative Allah Noor, smashed a gigantic six to internet off the mark and rapid gave his group a platform. The 18-365 days-aged produced a marvellous knock, which featured eight boundaries because the momentum of the semi swung wait on Afghanistan’s intention.
Alongside with wicketkeeper Mohammad Ishaq, the pair got their group past 90, with Noor making a treasured half of-century. England’s crucial breakthrough came after some very excellent fielding resulted in a dawdle-out for Ishaq with wicketkeeper Horton reacting rapid to a loose throw on the striker’s cease.
Noor remained stubborn but at closing went for 60, with Thomas Aspinwall claiming a crucial wicket. That online page up a frantic attain that would maybe perchance have gone either intention.
The 44th over for England perceived to have became the game when two no-balls in-a-row proficient their opponents eight runs, before Abdul Hadi (37 no) smashed a gigantic six to determine them to 200 and tantalizing shut.
However Ahmed’s uninteresting flurry and a nerveless closing over from Boyden carried England over the line to their first ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup closing since 1998 in South Africa, when they lifted the trophy.
