Big guns galore: U19WC semi-finals games locked and loaded

Four teams, three matches remaining.

One team is just successive wins away from hoisting the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup.

After 38 enthralling World Cup contests, we've reached the semi-finals stage.

Here is the who, when and where as we reach the pointy end of the tournament that's been unfolding in southern Africa.

Defending champions Australia are still alive and well, having come through to the knockout phase unscathed; five wins from five games.

The Aussies will meet cricketing foes England in the first semi, another of the unbeaten qualifiers.

In an all-Asian affair, unbeaten India will take on Afghanistan in the other semi.

India are motivated to make it back to the decider and go a step further than they managed in 2024.

Afghanistan, meanwhile, have looked rock solid all tournament and have genuine claims of causing a shock against the 2024 finalists.

Road to the knockout stage

Australia

Is it possible this Australia team looks even more complete than the side that went all the way two years ago? That's subjective, but entirely possible, such is the quality of this squad.

They were made to address a degree of adversity against the West Indies in their last Super Six contest, but passed with flying colours and have barely put a foot wrong since landing in southern Africa.

They have spent the bulk of their campaign in Namibia, before experiencing the Zimbabwe conditions against the Windies. Acclimatisation perhaps looms as the one skerrick of doubt surrounding the Aussie juggernaut.

England

Along with Australia and India, England have not been beaten at the tournament. All five of their wins have been comfortable, having unearthed some star performers with both bat and ball.

The English launched their campaign by claiming a 36-run win over Pakistan and sealed their semi-final entry by beating New Zealand by 65 runs.

Ben Mayes is currently the tournament's top run scorer, having amassed 375 runs from five innings, averaging 93.75. Bowler Manny Lumsden is the tournament's equal-top wicket taker with 13.

India

The Indians have looked the part of a genuine contender, just as the world anticipated.

Their first three games were DLS-impacted wins, but their last two appearances, against Zimbabwe and then Pakistan, have been particularly impressive.

Their production in both key disciplines has been evenly shared across the team and a match-winner could pop up from anywhere, at any stage of a final.

Afghanistan

The rise of Afghanistan as a cricketing force continues, with a new wave of talent emerging and taking them to the pointy end of another ICC tournament.

India's semi-final opponent has put together an impressive campaign, highlighted by their 28-run win over South Africa and powerful 138-run win over the West Indies. They bounced back from an unexpected four-wicket loss to Sri Lanka by blitzing through Ireland in a 191-run win to seal knockout stage qualification.

Faisal Khan has registered the second-most runs (325) at the World Cup, while Nooristani Omarzai's 12 wickets is good enough for fourth-most.

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