IND-U19 vs AFG-U19 2nd Semi-Final Results

3:14 PM IST India storm into another U-19 World Cup final - In a battle of blues, it is the lighter shade that reigns supreme as India book their place in a 10th Men's Under-19 World Cup final, where they will meet England, returning to the summit clash after the heartbreak against Australia a couple of years ago. This is a statement performance in every sense, as they pull off the highest successful chase in Under-19 World Cups with almost nine overs to spare. However, there is still plenty of credit due to Afghanistan Under-19, who once again fall just short on the big stage and will have to wait a little longer to take that next step forward.

3:13 PM IST Top order makes light work of a big chase - In a big chase like this, you need a fast start, and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi delivered exactly that with a sublime 68 off just 33 balls, setting the tone early as he and Aaron George raced to 91 in 10 overs, a stand that virtually broke the back of the chase. Ayush Mhatre then took over, smashing his way to his second half-century of the campaign while adding another dominant 114-run partnership with George, who was the star with 115 off 104 balls to take India to the cusp of victory, even if he would have been disappointed not to finish the job himself, and with all of the top four among the runs, India go into the final full of confidence.

3:12 PM IST The victorious skipper of India Under-19 - Ayush Mhatre says it is a great feeling to have made the final. He feels Afghanistan got off to a nice start with the bat, but was pleased with how his side pulled things back through the middle phase. Mhatre also praisesAfghanistan for the way they finished their innings. He reveals that the message at the halfway mark was to play their natural game. He highlights the role of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in the chase, saying his batting played a massive role in easing the pressure on those waiting in the dressing room. Mhatre reserves special praise for Aaron George, calling him a fabulous and classy batter. He shares that George looked confident at the crease and that the team always felt a big score from him was just around the corner. Ayush mentions that the approach for the final will be to keep things simple and show a good attitude on the field. He thanks the fans for their support and promises that the team will give their absolute best in the final. When asked about the short turnaround between games, Mhatre replies that the team is used to such schedules, having played plenty of cricket in India, where matches often come with just a day's gap.

3:10 PM IST Rivals reunite for one last showdown - Then there were two. This emphatic win sets up a repeat of the 2022 ICC Under-19 World Cup final, with India and England set to meet again in the summit clash. Back then, it was India who came out on top, and they will be looking to do the same, while England will be desperate to settle the score and get their hands on the title for the first time since 1998. We will be back here at the Harare Sports Club on Friday, 6 February, for the grand finale. It gets underway at 7.30 am GMT (1 pm IST), but as you know, you can join us early for all the build-up to the clash. Until then, cheers and goodbye.

3:08 PM IST PLAYER OF THE MATCH - Aaron George has been given the award for his fantastic 115 off 104 balls. He says he is grateful for the opportunity and delighted to be able to contribute in such a crucial game for the team. He admits the runs had not come in recent matches, but felt his batting was in a good place and trusted that a performance like this was just around the corner. George adds that he kept believing in himself, backed his process, and was pleased to see it come together when it mattered most. He also credits the collective effort, saying everyone played to their full potential on the day, and now the focus shifts to the final, which he says the team is really looking forward to.

3:07 PM IST The captain of Afghanistan Under-19 - Mahboob Khan says that it was a good total, but they dropped two catches, and the bowlers did not hit the correct lengths, which cost them. Adds that the batting was really good but it was a bad day for them. Praises Faisal Khan for his batting, says he is the best scorer in the tournament and calls him a future star. Also credits Uzairullah Niazai for his ton, and tells that the wicket was really good for batting and stayed the same. Mentions that it was a big total to defend, but they just could not do that, and it is part of the game. Ends by saying that he is proud of his team, qualifying through the group stages and working really hard to make it to the semis.