Afghanistan and England Under-19 have both secured their places in the semifinals of the ICC Under-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2026 after commanding Super Six performances, leaving only one semifinal spot still up for grabs as the tournament heads into its climax. Their convincing victories on Friday not only booked their berths in the final four, but also underscored their status as genuine title contenders at this age-group showpiece.
In Group 1 Super Six action in Harare, Afghanistan U-19 sealed their semifinal qualification with a crushing 191-run win over Ireland U-19. Electing to bat first, Afghanistan were propelled by an outstanding innings from Faisal Khan, who scored a monumental 163 off 142 balls — the highest individual score by an Afghan batter in the tournament’s history. His knock was built around a massive 188-run fourth-wicket partnership with captain Mahboob Khan (89), setting Afghanistan up for a huge total of 315 for 7.
Ireland’s response faltered disastrously in the chase. Pacers and spinners alike applied pressure early, with Afghanistan’s bowlers carving through the Irish lineup and restricting them to 124 all out. The scale of the victory was emphatic, demonstrating Afghanistan’s batting depth and bowling discipline that dominated from start to finish. This result guaranteed Afghanistan a spot in the last four behind Australia U-19, who had already clinched their semifinal place earlier in the Super Six phase through consistent performances.
Meanwhile, in Group 2 Super Sixes at Bulawayo, England U-19 booked their semifinal spot with a 65-run victory over New Zealand U-19, becoming the first team from their group to advance into the final four. England’s win was powered by an outstanding bowling performance from Manny Lumsden, who finished with figures of 5 for 17, including three wickets in a single over. His incisive spells turned the match in England’s favour after they posted a challenging total of 234 for 7 batting first.
During England’s innings, key contributions came from Ben Mayes (53) and Caleb Falconer (47), both anchoring scoring in the middle overs and laying a solid platform for England’s bowlers to defend. New Zealand’s chase never really gained traction, with Lumsden’s incisive bowling and disciplined fielding helping skittle the Kiwis out for 169, sealing their fate and ensuring England remained unbeaten in the competition.
With Afghanistan and England now confirmed in the semifinals alongside defending champions Australia U-19, attention turns to the final Super Six match between India U-19 and Pakistan U-19, which will effectively decide the fourth and final semifinal spot. India currently hold the edge on points and net run-rate, but Pakistan could still qualify if they secure a big win to overhaul that advantage.
For both Afghanistan and England, reaching the semifinals is a testament to their preparation, depth of talent and ability to perform under pressure. Afghanistan’s batting fireworks, led by Faisal Khan’s record-setting century, illustrate their growing cricketing strength and confidence on the world stage. England’s unbeaten run and collective balance — combining strong batting with potent bowling — have made them one of the most consistent teams in the tournament so far.
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