U19 World Cup: Australia finish third after defeating Afghanistan

A good performance by Nivethan Radhakrishnan took Australia to third place in the ICC Under-19 World Cup, winning two trophies in Afghanistan.

The ambassador took all three of Afghanistan’s 201 baptisms by 31 first, before reaching half a century. Australia sweated but ended up winning by five balls.

Afghanistan, hoping to improve on their previous best result in this tournament (fourth in 2018), won the draw and chose to join the Coolidge Cricket Ground in Antigua and Barbuda.

However, two early wickets by William Salzmann (3-43), Nangeyalia Kharote and Allah Noor, were reduced to 15 in Afghanistan.

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Mohammad Ishaq (34) and Suliman Shafi (37) started rebuilding, with the former adding 70 before Salzmann ran out, and the latter three balls later falling to Radhakrishnan.

Ijaz Ahmad Ahmadzai took power, making 81 wickets as they continued to flip around him, the ninth man to fall as Salzmann’s last victim with a 201-point lead.

Patron Cooper Connolly (2-30) finished his second wicket at the end of the inning, leaving Australia with a manageable chase as they were set to win 202.

Campbell Kellaway (51) and Teague Wyllie (13) put up a mid-century post for the first wicket, the latter before being thrown by Nangeyalia to lead Radhakrishnan to wrinkle.

He and Kellaway added another 60 before shaking a little, while Noor Ahmad quickly removed Kellaway and Connolly in a row.

Isaac Higgins joined Radhakrishna, scoring 11 runs in 40 runs, but when both were ruled out as 35 were still needed, some nerves began to show.

Lachlan Shaw (13) and Corey Miller (13) added 26 then three wickets to take Australia to the brink before giving Afghanistan hope.

They finished in the final, but Joshua Garner (four away) held on to see Australia at home.