NORTH SOUND (ANTIGUA), Feb 2: Half-centuries from George Thomas, George Bell and Alex Horton, and a fine spell of spin bowling by Rehan Ahmed (4/41) helped England overcome Afghanistan by 15 runs in a thrilling semi-final of the ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium here to secure a place in the final on Wednesday.
Leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed was the hero for England, taking three wickets in the penultimate over at crucial moments when their opponents required just 18 runs from the last 10 balls.
Riding on three half-centuries, England scored 231/6 in 47 overs in a rain-interrupted match and then despite the best efforts from Afghanistan’s wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Ishaq (43), Al Noor (60) and Abdul Hadi (37*), the incisive spell of bowling from Rehan restricted Afghanistan to 215/9 in 47 overs.
Rain delayed the semi-final after England won the toss and elected to bat. Once both sides were able to take to the field in Antigua and Barbuda, it was Afghanistan who made the stronger start. Jacob Bethell, who had smashed 88 against South Africa in the quarterfinals, was trapped LBW by Naveed Zadran.
Skipper Tom Prest joined vice-captain Bethell in making an early departure, reducing them to 2/56. George Thomas steadied the ship with an excellent 50, only to be beaten by an excellent delivery from Noor Ahmad.
And when William Luxton was clean bowled by Izharulhaq Naveed, England were five down having barely put 100 runs on the board. However, rain again delayed play for a further half hour and led to revised conditions of 47-overs-per-side.
England’s back-end stand of 95 from George Bell and Alex Horton managed to give them a respectable total of 231.
The weather interruptions meant Afghanistan had a revised DLS target to match the score and they knew a good start was the key. Opener Nangeyalia Kharote was unable to provide it when English seamer Josh Boyden claimed his wicket with just the third ball of the innings.
Kharote’s replacement Allah Noor, smashed a huge six to get off the mark and quickly gave his team a platform. The 18-year-old produced a superb knock featuring eight boundaries as the momentum of the semis swung back the Afghanistan’s way.
Along with wicketkeeper Mohammad Ishaq the pair got their team past 90, with Noor making a valuable half-century. England’s crucial breakthrough came after some athletic fielding led to a run-out for Ishaq with wicketkeeper Horton reacting quickly to a loose throw at the strikers end.
Noor eventually went for 60, with Thomas Aspinwall claiming a vital wicket. The 44th over for England appeared to have turned the game when two consecutive no balls gifted their opponents eight runs, before Abdul Hadi (37*) smashed a six to take them to 200.
But Rehan’s late flurry and a nerveless final over from Boyden carried England over the line to their first U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup final since 1998. (IANS)
Brief scores
Eng 231/6 (47 Ovs)
(George Thomas 50,
George Bell 56*;
Noor Ahmad 2/32)
Afg 215/9 (47 Ovs)
(Allah Noor 60,
Mohammad Ishaq 43;
Rehan Ahmed 4/41)
