India chased down the target of 311 runs in 41.1 overs on Wednesday (February 4) to book their place in the final of the ICC Men’s U19 World Cup 2026. In the second semifinal match played against Afghanistan
at the Harare Sports Club in Harare, Aaron George‘s 115-run knock helped India secure a memorable win and also book their place in the final of the U19 World Cup for the record-extending 10th time. In addition to booking their place in the final of the U19 World Cup 2026, India on Wednesday also broke the record for the highest successful run chase in U19 World Cup history.
So far, only two teams—India and New Zealand—have managed to successfully chase down a target of 300+ runs in an U19 World Cup match.
On February 14, 2006, in Colombo against Ireland, New Zealand chased down the target of 305 runs in 49.1 overs to secure a win by 3 wickets. That record stood for 20 years, but now it belongs to India.
Highest successful chases in U19 World Cup
| TEAM | SCORE | OVERS | TARGET | AGAINST | VENUE | DATE |
| India | 311/3 | 41.1 | 311 | Afghanistan | Harare | February 4, 2026 |
| New Zealand | 305/7 | 49.1 | 305 | Ireland | Colombo (RPS) | February 14, 2006 |
| South Africa | 298/8 | 48.5 | 294 | Bangladesh | Coolidge | February 3, 2022 |
| West Indies | 294/6 | 48.3 | 292 | Sri Lanka | Christchurch | January 29, 2010 |
| West Indies | 281/6 | 48.2 | 279 | Ireland | Lincoln | January 23, 2018 |
For India, apart from George, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (68 from 33) and Ayush Mhatre (62 from 59) also impressed with their batting in the 311-run chase on Wendesday.
India now face England in the summit clash on Friday. It will be India’s 10th final in the U19 showpiece, a testimony to BCCI’s structured junior cricket programme that unearths serious talent.
India seemed to have a tough task ahead once Afghanistan piled 310 for four, built around hundreds by Faisal Shinozada (110) and Uzairullah Niazal (101).
But India cantered past the target in 41.1 overs.
Sooryavanshi gave a flying start to India’s innings with a flurry of boundaries, mainly off off-spinner Wahidullah Zadran.
There was a slice of fortune too when Niazal dropped the left-hander on 22 at point off Abdul Aziz.
But around that lapse, Sooryavanshi batted quite aggressively, even pulling off a stunning helicopter shot six off pacer Nooristani Omarzai.
There were repeated attempts to play pull shot in his innings, which eventually became his undoing — an aimless hoick off Omarzai ended in the hands of Osman Sadat inside the circle.
(With inputs from PTI)
