USA U19 VS AFG U19 16TH PLACE PLAY OFF

Right then, that is it from this game where Afghanistan Under-19 just manages to get over the line while USA Under-19 ends their campaign without any wins. However, the action continues in the ICC Under-19 World Cup 2024 on 1st February, Thursday. Scotland U-19 takes on Namibia U-19 in the 16th Place Play-off match which will start at 1.30 pm IST (8 am GMT), but as you know, you can always join us early for all the build-up to the game. Until then, cheers and goodbye!

Naseer Khan Maroofkhil, the victorious skipper of Afghanistan Under-19 says that it was a tough tournament especially for him captaining the side. Adds that he knows that they didn't perform well in the campaign, but it is good to finish with a win. He continues that in the last two matches, they were unlucky, but he also states that their batting and fielding needed to be better. He reckons that it would have been a different story if the top-order batters did well in a couple of matches. Ends by saying that he is happy to play a good and mature inning in this game.

Rishi Ramesh, the captain of USA Under-19 says that they fought really well but the close defeats like this hurt the most. Adds that this being their last game, they wanted to give their all on the field. Tells that the standards are pretty high here, and they learned a lot from the top teams. Ends by saying that it was a great honor for them participating in this event.

Rahimullah Zurmati is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his match-winning knock. He says there was no pressure as he was playing according to the plan and he was focusing on taking ones and twos to get the team over the line. He continues that when the captain got out it was his duty to score some boundaries. He reckons that they didn't bat well in the last few matches but he is happy they did good in this match.

Presentation Time...

Earlier in the game, USA Under-19 posted a somewhat fighting total courtesy of crucial contributions from Prannav Chettipalayam and Utkarsh Srivastava. Allah Mohammad was the pick of the bowlers for Afghanistan Under-19 yet again with three wickets, while skipper, Naseer Khan Maroofkhil and Faridoon Dawoodzai picked up a couple, and Khalil Ahmed and Arab Gul chipped in with one each. While chasing, they were in early trouble but a resilient knock from the captain, and couple of partnerships along with a matured innings from Rahimullah Zurmati helped them end the tournament with a victory.

USA Under-19, on the other hand, will be extremely proud of their bowling effort as they pushed the Afghans to their limits. Arya Garg set the tone with a wicket on the first ball while Ateendra Subramanian followed with another in the second over. Their spinners, Utkarsh Srivastava and Khush Bhalala kept the runs in check and put the pressure on the batters. Ateendra Subramanian ended up with three wickets while Garg got a couple, and Aaryan Batra chipped in with one. They were able to bowl a lot of dot balls, but their fielding needed to be better. However, they still managed to take this game to the last over defending a low total, but just could not get over the line. They made it to this event after 14 long years,go back with a lot of experience and learnings form this World Cup campaign

Afghanistan Under-19 continued their tradition of losing a wicket in the first over as Hassan Eisakhil went back on the very first delivery. Wafiullah Tarakhil also couldn't make much impact and was dismissed for a duck, and Sohail Khan Zurmati followed suit as the Afghans had their backs against the wall. Then the skipper, Naseer Khan Maroofkhil joined Jamshid Zadran in the middle and slowly started to steady the ship for them. The runs were not coming easily, but they stuck around and added 36 runs together before Zadran had to depart. The skipper found another able partner in Numan Shah as they kept ticking the scoreboard and built up a partnership of 33 runs which was big in the context of this game. However, a rush of blood cost Shah his wicket leaving his captain with all the responsibility. After a very patient knock and facing over a 100 balls, the skipper also lost his patience and threw away his wicket while a mix-up cost Allah Mohammad his wicket that once again gave life to his game. The Afghans will be grateful to Rahimullah Zurmati who showed great resilience and played a very sensible knock keeping in touch with the asking rate as well. He remained unbeaten on 37 runs and was part of the match-winning partnership with Arab Gul who stayed not out on 23 and hit the winning six as well in the last over.

THE AFGHANS WIN A NAIL-BITER HERE! They have finally managed to take that extra step and get over the line. Afghanistan Under-19 finish their ICC Under-19 World Cup campaign on a positive note. It was not at all easy here, but they will be relieved that they were able to finish on the right end of a thrilling game after losing two close games in a row in the group stages. USA Under-19 should be proud of themselves for the effort in this game as they made it extremely difficult for the Afghans, but it was not their day here in Benoni.

SIX! There she goes! Arab Gul finishes things off in style! Fuller delivery just outside off. Arab Gul covers the stump gets on one knee and slog-sweeps the delivery from the middle of his bat. The ball flies high up in the sky and goes beyond the deep mid-wicket fence for a maximum. After two heartbreaking losses against Nepal and New Zealand, they finally gets the win, Afghanistan Under-19 win by three wickets and three balls to spare as well.

Short delivery outside off. Arab Gul punches it but finds the short cover once again.

Short and outside off. Arab Gul cuts it a bit early towards the short cover fielder.

Who will bowl the last over? It will be Khush Bhalala. Can he defend 3 runs here and make history for USA Under-19?

Fuller delivery on middle. Rahimullah Zurmati eases it back to the bowler. Rahimullah Zurmati will not be at the strike for the last over!

Fuller delivery on leg and middle. Arab Gul tries to play it towards th of side but gets nicked on the inner edge. the ball rolls towards the fine leg and the batter gets a single.

CLOSE! Slower and fuller on middle and off. Rahimullah Zurmati taps it to the front of short mid-wicket and sets off for a single. Arab Gul was a bit late to return home. The fielder has a shy at the striker's end but failed to hit it directly. It would have been run out if there was a direct hit. Arab Gul was not even in the frame.

Back of a length on middle and off. Arab Gul dabs towards the off side and gets a quick single.