Nivethan Radhakrishnan’s scintillating all-round performance propelled Australia to third place in the ICC Under-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup with a two-wicket win over Afghanistan.
Before scoring a half-century in the chase, the ambitious all-rounder took three for 31 and batted first to restrict Afghanistan to 201. Australia were drenched in sweat but eventually took home with five balls to spare.
Read also: Justin Langer stepped down as Australia coach
Afghanistan, hoping to improve on their previous best result in this tournament – fourth in 2018, won the toss and elected to bat at the Coolidge Cricket Ground in Antigua and Barbuda.
However, two early wickets for William Salzman (3/43), removing Nangelia Kharote and Allah Noor, reduced Afghanistan to 15 for two.
Mohammad Ishaq (34) and captain Suleiman Shafi (37) began to rebuild, the former was run out by Salzman before adding 70, the latter falling to Radhakrishnan three balls later.
Aijaz Ahmed Ahmedzai took the baton, 81 as wickets kept falling around him, before becoming the ninth man to fall as Salzmann’s final victim with a score of 201.
Captain Cooper Connolly (2-30) finished the innings with his second wicket in the final over, leaving Australia with a manageable chase as they were 202 sets for victory.
Campbell Kelaway (51) and Teague Wylie (13) put on a half-century partnership for the first wicket and later Nangelia bowled Radhakrishnan to the crease.
He and Kellaway added another 60 before wavering slightly as Noor Ahmed removed both Kellaway and Connolly in quick succession.
Isaac Higgins was joined by Radhakrishnan, putting on 11 runs in a 40-run partnership, but even when the two needed 35 runs, some nerves were still visible.
Lachlan Shaw (13) and Corey Miller (13) added 26 runs to give Afghanistan hope before quickening three wickets to take Australia to the brink.
They took it to the final over, but Joshua Garner (four not out) kept his enthusiasm up to see Australia home.
get all IPL news and cricket score Here
,