India’s Under-19 men’s team has scripted history. Ayush Mhatre’s side has hunted down a target of 311, the highest ever successful chase in men’s Under-19 ODI World Cup history. That too in the semifinal.
The junior Men in Blue were set the mammoth total after Afghanistan breached the 300-run mark with the help of a couple of fine hundreds by Faisal Shinozada and Uzairullah Niazai. The run chase wasn’t going to be easy. Barring an exceptional effort by New Zealand in 2006, no team had managed to get to a 300-run target. But India thought otherwise.
India ace record run-chase
Vaibhav Suryavanshi started things with a bang. He smashed a 24-ball fifty and departed for 68 (33) inside the powerplay itself. India had scored 91 runs by the end of the 10th over. The base was set; it was time to build on it.
Aaron George and Mhatre did just that. The former had scored just 46 runs in the last 3 matches. In the semifinal, he smashed a hundred. His 115 runs came from just 104 balls. Mhatre had registered one fifty before, but his highest score, 62 (59), also came in the biggest game yet.
India’s top three scored 245 runs between them. That too in just 196 balls, or 32.4 overs. That other batters were left with very little to do. India ended up winning with 7 wickets in hand and 53 balls to spare. Despite slowing down, India scored at 7.55.
Mhatre’s team will meet Thomas Rew’s England at the same venue, Harare Sports Club, just 2 days later. India will have the opportunity to lift their 6th Under-19 ODI World Cup trophy, while England looks for their 2nd title.
Highest successful chase in Under-19 ODI World Cup
- 311 – India vs Afghanistan in 2026
- 305 – New Zealand vs Ireland in 2006
- 294 – South Africa vs Bangladesh in 2022
- 292 – West Indies vs Sri Lanka in 2010
