Afghanistan Celebrate Faisal Khan Heroics, England Seal Unbeaten Run Into U19 Semis
Faisal Khan's 163 and Lumsden's five-wicket haul help Afghanistan and England secure U19 World Cup semifinal spots.
Afghanistan and England secured semifinal berths at the ICC Under-19 World Cup on Friday, joining Australia in the tournament’s final four after commanding victories in their respective Super Six matches. Afghanistan’s emphatic win over Ireland and England’s disciplined performance against New Zealand underscored their strong form at the business end of the competition.
Afghanistan booked their place with a dominant 191-run victory over Ireland, powered by a career-defining knock from Faisal Khan. Batting first, Afghanistan recovered from an early setback to post a formidable 315 for seven in their 50 overs, setting an insurmountable target for the Irish side.
Faisal anchored the innings with a superb 163 off 142 balls, an effort that included 18 fours and a six and marked the highest individual score by an Afghan batter in Under-19 World Cup history. After Afghanistan slipped to 27 for two, a stabilising partnership with Uzairullah Niazai steadied the innings before Faisal combined with captain Mahboob Khan for a decisive 188-run stand that took the game away from Ireland.
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Ireland’s chase never gained momentum, with the team being bowled out for 124. While Marko Bates and Reuben Wilson showed brief resistance, Afghanistan’s bowlers maintained pressure throughout, led by Abdul Aziz and Aqil Khan, who shared key wickets to seal a comprehensive victory.
England, meanwhile, became the first team from Group 2 to advance after defeating New Zealand by 65 runs. Batting first on a challenging surface, England posted 234 for seven, with contributions spread across the top and middle order to ensure a competitive total.
New Zealand’s reply faltered under sustained pressure, despite a fighting knock from Senith Reddy. England seamer Manny Lumsden proved decisive with a five-wicket haul, dismantling the chase and confirming England’s place in the semifinals. With Australia, Afghanistan, and England through, the final semifinal spot will be decided in Sunday’s highly anticipated India–Pakistan clash, which now serves as a virtual knockout.
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