India Dominates Afghanistan as Aaron George Nears Century: U19 World Cup 2026 Semifinal
In the ICC U-19 World Cup 2026 semifinal, Afghanistan set a daunting target for India by scoring 310 for 4. The match took place on Wednesday, with standout performances from Faisal Shinozada and Uzairullah Niazai, who both registered impressive centuries.
Afghanistan’s Strong Start
Batting first, Afghanistan had a cautious start, scoring only 42 runs in the first 10 overs. The opening pair, Osman Sadat and Khalid Ahmadzai, provided a solid foundation, accumulating 53 runs before Ahmadzai was dismissed for 31 runs. Sadat played a more tempered innings, contributing 39 runs but fell to a catch by Deepesh Devendran.
Key Partnerships
The turning point for Afghanistan came when Shinozada and Niazai partnered, crafting a crucial 148-run stand. Shinozada, who had previously scored a century, showcased his skills once again with a well-compiled 110 runs off 93 balls, featuring 15 boundaries.
Niazai, on the other end, excelled with an unbeaten 101 runs from 86 balls, hitting 12 fours and two sixes. Despite facing an arm injury during his innings, he accelerated during the final overs, contributing significantly to Afghanistan’s total.
Late Innings Contributions
- Azizullah Miakhil added a quick 12 runs before getting out.
- Abdul Aziz finished the innings with 7 runs off just 3 balls.
Afghanistan had an explosive final stretch, scoring 193 runs in the last two wickets, taking their total past the 300-run mark.
India’s Bowling Performance
For India, Deepesh Devendran and Kanishk Chouhan were the notable wicket-takers, each claiming two wickets. Devendran’s figures stood at 2 for 64, while Chouhan finished with 2 for 55. Khilan Patel proved economical, allowing just 49 runs in his 10 overs.
The Road Ahead for India
India faces a steep challenge in their chase to keep their title aspirations alive. Afghanistan’s innings was a demonstration of patience, crucial partnerships, and explosive power hitting, positioning them strongly in the semifinal.
