India’s quarter-finals record 

India beat the defending champions Bangladesh by five wickets in the Super League quarter-final to book a place in the semis for the fourth U19 World Cup in a row. The last time India missed out a semi-final spot was in the 2014 edition in the United Arab Emirates. 

Since the tournament in 2006 when it switched to quarter-finals format, India have reached the final eight positions in every tournament and gone beyond the quarter finals stage 7 out of 9 times. 

Their only two defeats in the quarters have come against England in Dubai in 2014 and Pakistan in Lincoln in 2010. 

Since 2006, India is the only team to reach the semi-finals stage seven times followed by Australia and Pakistan who have finished in the last four on six occasions. 

With a win against Bangladesh, India also extended their current winning streak in U19 ODIs to seven matches – four in this World Cup and three in the Asia Cup last month. 

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India’s wicket-taking prowess 

India have not conceded a total of 200 runs in any of their four matches in the tournament and bowled out the opponents (Bangladesh 111, Uganda 79, Ireland 133 and South Africa 187) on all four occasions. 

Their bowlers have taken 35 wickets at an average of 14.11, the best for any of the 16 teams playing in the tournament. 

With their fielders also inflicting four run outs, India have taken 39 out of the 40 opposition wickets. The 40th didn’t come after Uganda opening batter Isaac Ategeka had to retire hurt after he was hit on the hand by a delivery from Rajvardhan Hangargekar. 

Pakistan’s nemesis 

Pakistan have struggled against Australia in the knockout stages at both junior and senior levels in the recent years. Their 119 runs defeat in the quarter-final against Australia at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium marked their fifth consecutive loss at the hands of Australians across three Men’s Cricket World Cups (ODI, T20 and Under19) since 2010. 

It was just two months ago when Pakistan men’s senior side met a similar fate in the Semi Final of the ICC T20 World Cup in Dubai. 

Pakistan faced Australia in the U19 World Cup for the first time since their defeat in the final at Lincoln twelve years ago but the result didn’t change.  

Australia will now meet India in the Semi Final at Coolidge Cricket Ground in Antigua on February 2. 

Afghanistan in the semis

After having won all three matches in the group stage, Sri Lanka lost a thriller in the quarter final against Afghanistan at Coolidge Cricket Ground in Antigua. 

Afghanistan won the match after putting only 134, the lowest total they have defended in U19 Cricket World Cups and the second lowest in U19 ODIs, after 133 against Bangladesh in Sylhet in 2017. 

Before this game, Sri Lanka had never failed to chase a sub-150 target in U19 World Cups. 

At the end, the difference between two teams was just 4 runs, the narrowest margin of victory in terms of runs in the tournament this year. 

It is only second time, the first being the 2018 edition in New Zealand, that Afghanistan have made it to the Super League Semi Finals in the U19 World Cup. 

To qualify for their first final in any Cricket World Cup, Afghanistan will have to get the better of England in the Semi Final at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua on February 1. 

Bethell’s brilliance

England are widely known for their batting depth in white-ball cricket and Jacob Bethell is one name that might be joining their batting arsenal in the near future. 

The batting all-rounder from Warwickshire displayed his prowess in England’s quarter final win against South Africa at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium on Thursday. He smacked 88 off 42 balls at a strike-rate of 209.52, the highest for any Englishman in an innings of at least 50 runs in the U19 World Cup. 

Before Bethell, England’s fastest scoring innings of 50plus runs was 169.76 by Kadeer Ali (73 off 43 balls against PNG in Lincoln in 2002). 

Bethel, who was born in Barbados and idolizes Sir Garfield Sobers, has scored 201 runs at an average of 50.25 and a strike-rate of 112.92 and hit two 50s in four innings so far. England will be hoping he continues that form in the semi-final against Afghanistan. 

The upset 

United Arab Emirates registered their first win against a Full Member team in U19 Cricket World Cups when they defeated West Indies in the semi-final for the 9th Place.  

It is first time that UAE have won three matches in an U19 World Cup. Their other two wins came against Uganda and Canada. 

UAE are playing their third U19 Cricket World Cups after the two appearances in South Africa in 2020 and in the UAE in 2014. 

They will now play against Ireland in the Plate Final at Queen’s Park Oval in Port of Spain on January 31. The winner of this match will finish at nine in the tournament. 

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