Afghanistan’s young prodigies Faisal Shinwari and Uzairullah Niyazi lit up Harare with magnificent hundreds, posting 310/4 and setting India a daunting 311 to chase in the U19 World Cup semifinal. This blockbuster encounter has all the makings of a classic.
Toss won, bat first – Afghanistan wasted no time. Openers Sadat and Ahmadzai slapped 53 in 12 overs. Ahmadzai’s 31 (5×4) ended early, but Sadat (39 off 70, 3×4) and Shinwari rebuilt with 64 runs. The game-changer was the 148-run blitz from Shinwari (110 off 93, 15×4) and Niyazi (101* off 86, 12×4, 2×6).
India’s response was led by pacers Deepesh and Kanisk, both bagging two scalps, yet Afghanistan’s momentum was unstoppable. Recapping journeys: India entered semis unbeaten in group stage vs USA, Bangladesh, NZ; then hammered Zimbabwe (204 runs) and Pakistan (58 runs) in Super Sixes.
Afghanistan conquered South Africa, WI, Tanzania; recovered from Sri Lanka loss with 191-run rout of Ireland. Key players: India’s Ayush Mhatre (capt), Vaibhav Suryavanshi; Afghanistan’s Mahboob Khan (c/wk), Sadat.
Full squads: India boasts Vihan Malhotra, Abhigyan Kundu (wk); Afghanistan fields Azizullah Miakhil, Nooristani Umarzai. With centuries setting the tone, India’s batsmen face their sternest test yet. Can they rise to the occasion and book a final date?