USA U19 set ICC Americas U19 World Cup Qualifier records by bowling out Argentina U19 for the lowest total (19) in the shortest completed innings (10.3 overs) as well as finishing the shortest combined match length by overs (12.5) and time (71 minutes). 

Photo credit: Peter Della Penna

By Peter Della Penna in Rydal, Georgia (Twitter/X @PeterDellaPenna)
 
In the shortest match in the history of the ICC Americas U19 World Cup Qualifier, USA U19 needed just over an hour to record a nine-wicket win over Argentina U19 on Tuesday morning at Param Veers Sports Complex as the hosts moved their record to 3-0 at the halfway point of the tournament. Argentina were bowled out for 19 in 10.3 overs, both the lowest total and the shortest completed innings in the history of the tournament which began in 2001. 
 
Unlike their total of 23 against Canada two days earlier, which included one four and one six, Argentina did not hit any boundaries against USA. The first time that occurred also came against Argentina when Bermuda bowled them out for 22 at Lauderhill in 2011 in what was the previous lowest ever total in the ICC Americas U19 Qualifier tournament. 
 
USA needed 2.2 overs to knock off the runs on Tuesday as the match finished while it was still morning in Georgia. A single clipped by Saharsh Shwethan clinched USA’s win at 11:41 am to make the 71-minute contest the shortest match in terms of minutes played in the tournament’s history as well. Canada still holds the record for the quickest chase, needing just five balls to chase down their target of 24 against Argentina two days earlier. But the combined length of play – 12.5 overs – also made it the shortest match in terms of total deliveries played. 
 
USA won the toss and chose to bowl first with rain expected to come into the area in the early afternoon. The decision was justified as rainfall eventually arrived in the area at 12:30 pm, less than an hour after play finished. USA made two changes to their lineup as Adnit Jhamb and Adit Kappa were rotated out in favor of Supransh Kumar and Ansh Rai. 
 
Medium pacer Kumar struck on the second ball of play, getting Juan Moline to chop onto his stumps for a duck. Offspinner Sabrish Prasad took the new ball at the opposite end and hit the stumps with his first delivery to bowl Otto Sorondo for 1. Prasad took his second wicket in the fourth over as Argentina captain Valentin Bur drove a full delivery flat to Kumar at mid-off for 6 to make it 9 for 3. 
 
Kumar then took the next two wickets to fall, bowling Luciano Lopresti for 3 after the left-hander was beaten for pace attempting a drive in the fifth. Tomas Rossi lasted the longest at the crease for Argentina, making 1 off 17 balls after entering in the first over before he fell in the seventh driving Kumar to Ansh Rai at mid-off making it 14 for 5. Prasad then claimed his third in the following over when Alvaro Minardi slogged a catch to Rai at deep midwicket for 1 to make it 16 for 6. 
 
Rai then replaced Kumar for the start of the ninth over and needed just nine balls to wipe out the Argentina tail. Vicente Romanin was his first victim in a triple-wicket over, bowled by a full delivery for 1. Muhammad Abaidullah walked across his stumps and missed a flick to be given lbw for a second-ball duck. Juan Martin then lost his balance missing a wild heave and was out stumped for a second-ball duck to end the over at 17 for 9. After a maiden by Sahir Bhatia in the 10^th, which included a dropped chance at short extra cover, Rai conceded a single and a leg bye to start the 11^th before bowling Jose Bautista for 1 on a quicker full delivery to end the innings.
 
Rai returned figures of 4 for 2 in his 1.3 overs to go along with his two catches. Prasad took 3 for 8 with two maidens in four overs while Kumar ended with 3 for 7 and one maiden in four overs. Franz Bur ended not out on 0 off 11 balls for Argentina.
 
As USA’s openers swung away with abandon to secure a big net run rate boost, Argentina was able to claim a wicket at the end of the first over of the chase when Shiv Shani flicked Valentin Bur to deep midwicket where Minardi charged in from the rope to take a sharp tumbling catch for 2 to make it 9 for 1. Nitish Sudini could have been out for 12 but was dropped at backward point on the final ball of the second over bowled by Romanin. A single by Sudini to start the third over leveled the scores before Shwethan ended the match with another single one ball later to end on 3 not out. Sudini finished on 14 not out off 8 balls with two fours. 
 
In the day’s other match, Canada made short work of Bermuda by bowling them out for 60 in an eight-wicket win. Canada needed just 4.5 overs to chase down the target as Aryan Sidhu hit four fours and three sixes to finish 35 not out off 13 balls. 
 
USA returns to action on Wednesday when they face Bermuda for the second time while Canada goes up against Argentina.