U19 World Cup 2018: Australia advance to the finals courtesy Jack Edwards

Jack Edwards scored 72 to set up the victory.

Jack Edwards scored 72 at the top. (Getty)

Australia advanced to the finals of the 2018  U19 World Cup as they won the match against Afghanistan chasing 182 by six wickets. 

Batting first Afghanistan ended up on 181 in 48 overs with opener Ikram Ali Khan scoring a defiant 80 in a big semi-final. Ikram Ali Khil made 80 off 119 but a collective batting failure meant Afghanistan's chances were dashed pretty badly. The next best score came from Rahmanullah, the opener, who made 20 while Mujeeb Zadran chipped in with 12.

From 80 for 2 in the 23rd over, Afghanistan soon found themselves tottering at 131 for 6. They somehow managed to reach 181 in 48 overs. 

If it was Pope in the quarterfinals, it was Jonathan Merlo, the medium pacer who picked up 4 wickets to limit the Afghanistan total under 200. 

Australia then went past the total with six wickets to spare and inside 40 overs as Jack Edwards' 72 run knock provided the perfect platform for the lower order to settle the score and book a place in the final. 

Brief scores: 

Afghanistan 181 in 48 overs (Ikram Ali Khil 80; Jonathan Merlo 4-24) lost to Australia 182/4 in 37.3 overs (Jack Edwards 72) by six wickets.

 
 

By Anshuman Roy - 29 Jan, 2018

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