Sooryavanshi Blitz & George’s Classic Hundred – India Storm Into U19 World Cup Final With Record Chase of 311 Against Afghanistan

India reached the ICC Under-19 Men’s World Cup final after a blistering seven-wicket win over Afghanistan at the Harare Sports Club on Wednesday – and they did it in style. Opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (68 off 33) exploded out of the blocks, while Aaron George anchored the chase with a mature 115 as India chased down 311 with more than eight overs in hand. The five-time champions will meet unbeaten England in Friday’s title match.

Here’s a sharp, reader-friendly breakdown of what happened, why it matters and the records that fell in this high-voltage semi-final.

Match snapshot (quick facts)

• Afghanistan 1st innings: 310/4 (50 overs) – Faisal Shinozada 110 (93), Uzairullah Niazai *101 (86)**.
• India chase: 311/3 (41.1 overs) – Aaron George 115 (104); Vaibhav Sooryavanshi 68 (33); Ayush Mhatre 62 (59); Nooristani 2/64 (Afghanistan).
• Result: India won by 7 wickets and reached their 10th U19 World Cup final (most by any nation).
• Venue: Harare Sports Club, Harare, Zimbabwe.
• Next: India vs England – Final, Friday, February 6.

How the chase unfolded – overs at a glance

• Powerplay on fire: Sooryavanshi raced away, combining aggressive hitting with smart placement. India were 90/0 after 10 overs – a platform that released scoreboard pressure early.
• Consolidation and acceleration: After Sooryavanshi’s dismissal, George and captain Ayush Mhatre combined in a 114-run partnership that removed any doubt; George then paced the innings beautifully to completion.
• Finish: With Vihaan Malhotra (38*) and Vedant Trivedi (5*), India eased home in the 41st over, completing the highest successful chase by India in U19 World Cups (previous best 304 in 2002).

Key performers – who made it happen

• Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (68, 33 balls): A match-defining blitz – four sixes, five fours. His lightning start changed the tenor of the chase and allowed others to build.
• Aaron George (115, 104 balls): The innings of the night: composed footwork, exquisite timing and smart rotation. His century was classic anchor batting under pressure and earned him Player of the Match.
• Ayush Mhatre (62, 59 balls): The captain’s innings was timely and mature – the perfect foil to George’s anchoring role.
• Faisal & Uzairullah (Afghanistan): A superb top-order stand (148 off 130) put Afghanistan in a strong position; two centuries showed their batting depth despite the loss.

Tactical takeaways

• Exploit the powerplay: India’s decision to counter-attack from ball one paid off. Sooryavanshi’s aggression turned a testing chase into a manageable task.
• Partnership construction: Once the initial fireworks subsided, George and Mhatre paced the chase sensibly – singles and doubles to keep the required rate comfortable, boundaries taken when available.
• Fielding lapses cost Afghanistan: Missed chances in the early overs proved costly; in high-scoring contests, one or two dropped catches can change the result.

Records & notable stats

• India’s 10th U19 final – most by any country; India have now reached six consecutive finals (2016–2026).
• Highest successful chase for India in U19 ODIs: 311 (this match).
• Sooryavanshi’s impact: He now joins the list of leading six-hitters for an edition – 15 sixes in 2026 (one of the top tallies).
• Match aggregate: 621 – the second-highest playoff aggregate in U19 World Cup history.
• Notable: This was the first time both innings recorded 50+ stands for the first three wickets in a U19 ODI.

Quotes from the dressing room

• Ayush Mhatre (India captain): “It was simple – play each ball on its merit. Vaibhav released the pressure early and Aaron anchored brilliantly. We’ll keep it simple for the final and give our 110%.”
• Mahboob Khan (Afghanistan captain): “Good batting from our boys; we missed some chances in the field and couldn’t maintain line and length at times. We will come back stronger.”
• Aaron George: “I trusted my process, backed my preparation and am grateful to contribute in an important game.”

What this means – for the players and India cricket

• Big stage showpieces: Performances like George’s hundred and Sooryavanshi’s powerplay assault will catch the eye of franchise scouts and national selectors – the U19 World Cup continues to be a talent pipeline.
• Depth of India U19 setup: Reaching a 10th final underlines the strength of India’s junior structure and the effectiveness of recent talent pathways.
• Momentum into final: Riding a record chase gives India both belief and a template for how to chase big totals – but England remains unbeaten and will provide a different challenge.

What to expect in the final (brief preview)

• Opposition: England – the only other unbeaten side in the tournament. Expect a clash of batting depth versus disciplined bowling; conditions and the toss will be significant.
• Keys for India: Continue positive intent in the powerplay, back their top order to build partnerships, and sharpen fielding – small margins will decide a title.

Scorecard (concise)

• Afghanistan: 310/4 (50 overs) – Faisal 110, Uzairullah 101*; India bowlers: Deepesh Devendran 2/64, Kanishk Chouhan 2/55.
• India: 311/3 (41.1 overs) – Aaron George 115, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi 68, Ayush Mhatre 62; Nooristani 2/64 (Afghanistan).

Final word

Harare witnessed a classic U19 semi-final: explosive youth cricket, big partnerships and records rewritten. India’s blend of aggression and composure saw them through a chase few teams could have imagined when Afghanistan posted 310. The final on Friday promises to be a fitting climax – two unbeaten sides, young stars and a chance for glory.

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