England pulled off a remarkable 15-run win against Afghanistan in the ICC Under-19 World Cup 2022 semifinal as they entered the final for the first time since 1998.
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Afghanistan needed 19 runs off 12 balls with four wickets still intact in the ICC Under-19 World Cup semifinal against England in Antigua. It looked like the ultimate miracle was going to take place. In an ideal world, this target would have been chased down. But, Rehan Ahmed put on a brilliant show of bowling in the penultimate over. He picked up three wickets and broke the spirit of the Afghanistan side as England finally broke the jinx.
After 24 years, England finally made it to the final of the ICC Under-19 World Cup with a 15-run win according to the DLS method. For Afghanistan, it was the ultimate heartbreak. The fact that they came so far despite coronavirus threatening their participation and the cancellation of their warm-up games showed their mettle. For England, they will now be awaiting the winner of the India vs Australia semifinal on Thursday.
England chose to bat in Antigua after the rain had delayed the start. Naveed Zadran sent back the dangerous Jacob Bethell for 2. George Thomas was in solid form with two fours off Naveed Zadran. He benefited from a dropped catch by Noor Ahmed. Bilal Sami was welcomed with a six by Thomas. Tom Prest was in fine form with two fours off Bilal Sami as England made good progress.
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But, Nangeliya Kharote sent back Prest and Afghanistan had found the opening. Thomas once again benefited from a dropped catch by Noor Ahmad and he neared his fifty with a six. Noor Ahmad, though, made amends by trapping James Rew in front for 12. Thomas reached his fifty but Noor Ahmad sent him back. When Izharulhaq Naveed dismissed Will Luxton for 11, Afghanistan was on top.
Another rain delay shortened the match to 47 overs a side. After the break, Afghanistan made inroads with Rehan Ahmed sent back for 16. But, George Bell and Alex Horton changed the course of the match.
Alex Bell and George Horton regularly found the boundaries as Afghanistan wilted in the final overs. Bell reached his fifty and Horton also notched up his fifty with a six and two fours. In the last 11 overs, England had scored 94 runs and the partnership had given the side plenty of confidence.
Afghanistan started their chase badly when Joshua Boyden sent back Nangeliya Kharote in the first over. Mohammad Ishaq and Allah Noor then decided to counterattack. Ishaq and Noor hit a six off Boyden and James Sales. Boyden was greeted with two fours by Boyden while Noor blasted two fours and a six off James Sales. The partnership went past fifty and England was on the ropes.
Ishaq hit another big six and Noor smashed another big hit to near his fifty. The partnership was broken when Ishaq was run-out for 43. That opened the doors for England. Thomas Aspinwall sent back Suliman Safi for 0 while Noor reached his fifty. But, Aspinwall got the massive wicket of Noor for 60 as Afghanistan stumble.
Bilal Ahmad hit three fours off Rehan Ahmed to keep Afghanistan afloat. Bilal continued to find the boundary and he got a life when Boyden dropped him on 26 off Prest. After the break, Tom Prest removed Bilal Ahmad for 33 and Rehan Ahmed also struck.
Noor Ahmad and Abdul Hadi then kept the fight going to get Afghanistan closer. England had a horror 44th over, with James Sales conceding two no-balls, and the over went for 20 runs. But, Rehan Ahmed then changed the game in the 46th over. He sent back Noor Ahmad with James Rew pulling off a superb diving catch. He then removed Izharulhaq Naveed and Bilal Sami to put the game in England’s grasp. Boyden conceded just two runs as England managed to enter the final. Afghanistan will play the loser of the India vs Australia semifinal on February 3.
