India ace record chase to make Under-19 World Cup final

A classy century from Aaron George, a swashbuckling 33-ball 68 from Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and a half-century from captain Ayush Mhatre helped India U-19 ace what looked like a tricky chase with ease and got them an entry into their tenth Under-19 World Cup final.

They will face England in the final on February 6.

The odds were against India when centuries from Faisal Shinozada and Uzairullah Niazai lifted Afghanistan U-19 to 310 for 4. A target of this size had never before been chased down in Under-19 World Cup history.

But the Indian top-order came to the party as they chased down the record 311-target with 53 balls to spare.

Both George (20) and Sooryavanshi (22) were dropped early in their innings but they cashed in, and Afghanistan were left to rue their errors. The duo added 90 runs for the opening wicket off just 57 balls.

Mhatre and George then put up a century-stand before Vihaan Malhotra and George all but sealed Afghanistan’s fate.  (ESPNcricinfo)