EN U19 VS AF U19 1ST SEMI FINAL

So with this mouth-watering clash, it is England Under-19 who go through and they will wait just like us to see who will meet them in the finals. India Under-19 will take on Australia Under-19 in the second Semi-Final on 2nd February at 6:30 pm IST (1 pm GMT). But as usual, the build-up will begin much early. So do join us. Until then, goodbye and take care.

Tom Prest, the victorious skipper of England Under-19, says that they were put under pressure but they did not expect it to get that tight as it did but their bowlers did well in the end to defend the score. Applauds Joshua Boyden by saying that he was brilliant under pressure. Mentions that it was a brave call to bat first and they did well to go past the 200-run mark. He says that they did well with the ball and Tom Aspinwall did a good job of hitting the hard lengths as it wasn't easy for the batters to get under those kind of deliveries.

Suliman Safi, the skipper of Afghanistan, says that it is a very difficult time for them. Tells that they had momentum on their side but are disappointed to end up on the losing side. Says that winning and losing is a part of the game and credits England Under-19 for the way they played. Mentions that the momentum shifted when they lost the wicket of Noor Ahmad.

GEORGE BELL IS THE PLAYER OF THE MATCH. He says that when he got out to bat, he tried to keep it steady for a while and wanted to take it deep. Applauds Alex Horton by saying that he played a great knock. Tells that it was challenging to play against Afghanistan Under-19 spinners and they had a plan to target their pace bowlers. Mentions that they stayed calm as a team and credits their skipper for the way he handled the situation when they were under pressure at the end.

... The Presentation ...

Earlier in the day, Afghanistan bowlers did a good job but they let the momentum slip away at the fag end and that helped England post 231 in 47 overs. Afghanistan gave a good fight but fell short in the end.

England bowlers had a small target to defend and they did well to take it till the end. They started with a wicket in the very first over but after that things dried up. There were some sloppy fielding and dropped catches as well but some exceptional bowling in the death, especially from Rehan Ahmed who took beating earlier, helped England advance further. Other than James Sales, it was a good performance from the bowling compartment.

Afghanistan were off to a superb start despite losing Nangeyalia Kharote for a duck. Mohammad Ishaq and Allah Noor built a partnership of 93 runs and things were looking pretty easy for Afghanistan. Ishaq was sold short through a run out and then there was flurry of wickets later. Two wickets in quick succession and they needed another big partnership. Abdul Hadi and Bilal Ahmad did just that and brought back life into the game, they posted a 50-run partnership and then it was the cameo of Noor Ahmad which took Afghanistan much closer. The game was very close but the Afghans failed to get over the line in the end.

This is the 44th over when everything was happening. The first ball where Thomas took the catch off Sales delivery and as England were celebrating it, the umpire called it as a no ball. Ecstasy turned into agony for England as Afghanistan took 20 runs off the over. It was a matter of who had the nerves now to take their team into the finals and it turned out to be England who did that job well. Pheww...This game was swinging like a pendulum.

ENGLAND UNDER- 19 ARE INTO THE FINALS OF THE ICC MEN'S U-19 WORLD CUP 2022 AFTER 24 YEARS! What a mouth-watering clash this was. As we write, the staff and England players are over the moon as they enjoy the moment. Heartbreak for Afghanistan who were so, so close but failed to get over the line. Commiserations to Afghanistan who showed an incredible fight until the end but came second best against the favorites of this game.

SWING AND A MISS! THERE IT IS! Joshua Boyden SEALS THE DEAL! Another slower ball, into the wicket, around middle. Abdul Hadi skips down the track to slog but he fails to get any bat on it. England Under-19 win by 15 runs (DLS) and they are through to the finals of the ICC Men's U-19 World Cup 2022!

Back of a length, around middle. Naveed Zadran whips it to the leg side and hands the strike back to Abdul Hadi.

On a length, around middle. Abdul Hadi drills it towards long on and takes a single this time.

Play and a miss! A slower ball, on a length, outside off. Abdul Hadi skips down and looks to heave it to the leg side but he misses. 18 runs needed off 3 balls now.

Fuller in length, outside off. Abdul Hadi lets it be thinking that it is a wide. But it was inside the tramline.

Full ball, outside off. Abdul Hadi drills it towards long off and doesn't take a run.

Brave short though from the tail ender! This is full and on middle. Naveed Zadran reverse hits it over covers but does not take a single. So Hadi will be not on the strike.