ICC U19 World Cup: Afghanistan march into semifinals, pip Sri Lanka by four runs

Afghanistan Under-19 team will now face England in the first ICC World Cup 2022 Super League semi-final at the Sir Viv Richards Cricket Ground on February 1. 

Afghanistan produced a sensational fightback to edge a thriller with Sri Lanka and secure a place in the semi-finals of the ICC U19 World Cup 2022. Despite only setting a target of 135, a superb performance with the ball means Suliman Safi’s side just did enough to progress from the Super League quarter-finals.

A composed late spell at the crease from Sri Lanka’s skipper Dunith Wellalage looked for a while like he would pull his team over the line, but it was not meant to be as Afghanistan edged the low-scoring thriller to reach the final four, matching their achievement from the 2018 tournament in New Zealand.

They will now face England in the first Super League semi-final at the Sir Viv Richards Cricket Ground on February 1. Wellalage’s team elected to field after the winning the toss at the Coolidge Cricket Ground and for the first few overs it was difficult to tell whether it was the correct decision.