England beat Afghanistan by 15 runs in a rain-affected match at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium to book a slot in the final of the ICC Under-19 World Cup. Chasing 232 in a 47-overs-a-side game, Afghanistan only scored 215/9.
With 19 needed off 12 balls, Afghanistan scored only one run and lost three wickets in the 46th over to slump to 213/9. Rehan Ahmed dismissed Noor Ahmad, Izharulhaq Naveed and Bilal Sami in the first five balls to as good as seal the match for England.
Earlier, Mohammad Ishaq and Allah Noor added 93 for the second wicket after Afghanistan lost Nangeyalia Kharote for a duck. Ishaq and Noor set up a solid foundation before the former got run out on 43. Noor went on to score 60 in 87 balls.
Bilal Ahmad and Abdul Hadi added 50 for the fifth wicket to take Afghanistan close to the target. Ahmad got out to Tom Prest on 33, while Hadi remained unbeaten on 37.
For England, Rehan finished with four wickets, and Thomas Aspinwall took two wickets.
England rode on fifties from George Thomas, George Bell, and Alex Horton to score 231/6. Thomas scored 50 in 69 balls, but the next four batters got out cheaply. England were lifted by a 95-run stand between Bell and Horton. Bell scored 56 from 67 balls, while Horton struck five fours and a six for his 36-ball 53.
England 231/6 in 47 overs (George Bell 56; Noor Ahmad 2-32) beat Afghanistan 215/9 in 47 overs (Allah Noor 60; Rehan Ahmed 4-41) by 15 runs. Player of the Match: George Bell