Afghanistan shock 2022 finalists England in U19 Cricket World Cup warm-up

Afghanistan toppled England by 67 runs in U-19 Cricket World Cup warm-up after a good all-round performance in South Africa’s Johannesburg.

Put in to bat first, Afghanistan were reduced to 82/4, but Sohail Khan Zurmati and Numan Shah made half-centuries to propel Afghanistan to a total of 238. For England, Tazeem Ali shone with figures of 3/45 while Sebastian Morgan and Dominic Kelly took a couple of wickets each, icc-cricket.com reported.

Skipper Ben McKinney started well for England, but Afghanistan’s trump card, 16-year-old Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar, who has been likened to Mujeeb ur Rahman, sent back three of the top four batters to dent England.

Kelly launched a fightback from No.7, with Eddie Jack making a useful 36, including three sixes, from No.10, but Ghazanfar took his wicket as England were bowled out for 171.

The star for Afghanistan was Ghazanfar, who finished with a five-wicket haul to spell a major warning for Group D teams. Bashir Ahmad and Khalil Ahmad also picked up two wickets apiece for Afghanistan as they notched up a confidence-boosting win.

Afghanistan’s next warm-up match will be against South Africa on Tuesday.