On 4th February 2026, Afghanistan U19 locked horns with India U19. Opting to bat first, Afghanistan posted a huge total of 310. India started their 311-run chase with confidence but one shot in particular caught everyone's attention early on. In the third over, Aaron George played a beautiful drive off Abdul Aziz that raced away for four.
The shot lacked fancy elements because it displayed perfect timing and balance. The commentators were equally mesmerized watching the shott which resembled a Virat Kohli classic drive.
Watch the video here:
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The shot allowed Aaron George to settle down while India gained confidence to pursue a chase that others considered extremely difficult. The pitch showed a flat surface but playing a knockout match with a 300-point target created pressure on the players. From the beginning, India maintained an attitude of calmness.
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Afghanistan Post a Strong 310 on the Board
Afghanistan achieved a total of 310 runs after they maintained controlled batting performance during their entire batting period. Their opening batters established the foundation when they added 53 runs without taking any risks. The two hundreds which served as the main strength of the innings brought distinct styles into their performance.
Faisal played the role of an anchor and showed great control, scoring his second hundred in a row. Uzairullah Niazai played powerfully at the other end of the field. He advanced the score through fast running and powerful batting. The partnership between Faisal and Uzairullah produced 148 runs from 130 balls which changed the entire flow of the match.
India failed to convert multiple run-out attempts which allowed Afghanistan to score more runs during their last batting stretch. Afghanistan reached 300 runs by scoring 111 runs during the final 10 overs which created a significant challenge for their opponents.
India Crush Record Chase to Reach Final
India completed the chase with great style because they made it easier to achieve than people had anticipated. The powerplay saw Vaibhav Sooryavanshi play aggressively while he punished Afghanistan for their early dropped catch. His fearless batting style took pressure off all the other players.
Aaron George who had a difficult start to the tournament delivered a perfect century performance with his precise and well-timed batting. The Indian team maintained their scoring rhythm while showing no signs of pressure throughout the entire match.
India reached the target of 41.1 overs after they whooped Afghanistan with their batting display. Afghanistan had to face regret about their fielding mistakes which occurred because they failed to catch Sooryavanshi. India's victory brought them their 10th Under-19 World Cup final appearance after 16 tournament editions.
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