India Creates History with Record Chase to Enter U-19 World Cup Final
George slams ton as India chases record target easily
Team India has once again proved its dominance in junior cricket. In a high-scoring semi-final match on Wednesday, the India U-19 World Cup team pulled off a historic victory against Afghanistan to book their spot in the final. This marks the tenth time the "Boys in Blue" have reached the summit clash of this prestigious tournament.
Winning by seven wickets, India chased down a massive target of 311 runs with remarkable ease, finishing the game with 53 balls still remaining. This is officially the highest successful run chase in the history of the Under-19 World Cup.
A Chase to Remember
The hero of the match was undoubtedly Aaron George. He played a match-winning knock, scoring a brilliant 115 runs. He was well-supported by Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who provided an explosive start to the innings. Sooryavanshi smashed 68 runs off just 33 balls, putting the pressure back on the Afghan bowlers immediately.
However, luck was on India’s side early in the innings. Both George and Sooryavanshi were dropped when they were on 20 and 22 runs, respectively. Afghanistan paid a heavy price for these fielding errors. The Indian opening duo punished the bowlers, adding 90 runs in less than 10 overs.
After Sooryavanshi fell, captain Ayush Mhatre stepped up. He scored a composed 62 and built a century partnership with Aaron George, ensuring the team stayed on track for the win.
Afghanistan’s Strong Effort in Vain
Earlier in the day, Afghanistan looked set for a win. Centuries from Faisal Shinozada (110) and Uzairullah Niazai (101) powered them to a formidable total of 310 for 4. At the halfway mark, the odds were against India, as no team had ever chased such a huge total in this tournament.
Yet, the Indian batters made light work of the record target. Vihaan Malhotra and Aaron George finished the proceedings, sealing a memorable win. India will now look to lift the trophy in the upcoming final.
