ICC U19 World Cup: Afghanistan march into semifinals, pip Sri Lanka by four runs

Afghanistan produced a sensational fightback to edge a thriller with Sri Lanka and stable a explain in the semi-finals of the ICC U19 World Cup 2022. Regardless of only surroundings a diagram of 135, a very just correct efficiency with the ball draw Suliman Safi’s aspect steady did ample to progress from the Big League quarter-finals.

A delicate dull spell on the crease from Sri Lanka’s skipper Dunith Wellalage regarded for a while take care of he would pull his group over the highway, but it became now not intended to be as Afghanistan edged the low-scoring thriller to attain the final four, matching their success from the 2018 tournament in New Zealand.

They’ll now face England in the predominant Big League semi-final on the Sir Viv Richards Cricket Ground on February 1. Wellalage’s group elected to self-discipline after the a success the toss on the Coolidge Cricket Ground and for the predominant few overs it became hard to order whether it became the correct resolution.

Afghanistan openers Nangeyalia Kharote and Bilal Sayedi regarded stable for the hole ten overs sooner than Traveeen Mathew struck with a inappropriate delivery that eliminated Sayedi. Kharote departed in the very subsequent over and when skipper Suliman Safi became trapped LBW after making steady one, Afghanistan have been reeling.

Ijaz Ahmadzai misplaced his wicket with out troubling the scoreboard, but fellow heart-repeat batsman Abdul Hadi became in a do to right the ship with a well-known knock. The left-hander came to the crease with his group struggling, but he managed to label 37, together with four boundaries, sooner than he became stumped after a artful delivery from Dunith Wellalage.

Splendid insist of bowling from Afghanistan as they’ve diminished Sri Lanka to 31/5 in 15 overs.#SLvAFG | #U19CWC pic.twitter.com/YQHG3RtEtR

— Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) January 27, 2022

Vinjua Ranpul then helped obvious-out the tail for Sri Lanka, ending with a five-wicket haul on the expense of steady ten runs. When he trapped Izharulhaq Naveed, Afghanistan have been all out for steady 134 runs. The Sri Lankan acknowledge became on shaky floor from the originate up. Opener Sadisha Rajapaksa went for a duck in the hole over, and his change Shevon Daniel went for steady 2 after he became dapper bowled by Bilal Sami.

After 13 overs, they have been in a worse do than Afghanistan have been right through their innings. Nor Ahmed then produced a cracking delivery to have interaction Ranuda Somarathne and do Sri Lanka in accurate peril. From that point, their wishes of lifting a first ICC U19 Males’s Cricket World Cup have been fading rapid. Nonetheless, the eight wicket partnership between captain Wellalage and Raveen de Silva regarded take care of it may maybe maybe well maybe save the day, taking Sri Lanka from 43 runs for seven to 112.

Kharote then took the well-known wicket of the skipper, who played cheaply, sooner than Naveed claimed the wicket of de Silva to region-up a nerve jangling carry out. Sri Lanka obtained to interior five runs of victory, but their fourth scoot-out of the innings tag Mathew the final wicket and gave Afghanistan a dramatic victory.

Transient rankings: Afghanistan U19 134 in 47.1 ovs (Abdul Hadi 37, Noor Ahmad 30; Vinuja Ranpul 5/10, Dunith Wellalage 3/36) bt Sri Lanka U19 130 in 46 ovs (Dunith Wellalage 34; Bilal Sami 2/33)