Moments of the ICC Under 19 World Cup so far

The group stages of the 2018 ICC Under 19 Cricket World Cup are over, and there have been so many highlights to enjoy from an incredibly broad spread of participants. Twenty-four different players from 13 of the 16 nations have picked up Player of the Match awards so far.

Here are just some of the moments that made the first half of this event so special. Runs, wickets, catches and great fielding in and amongst this lot.

Rachin Ravindra 76 (89) vs South AfricaPart of a Player of the Match display that saw his team to victory against South Africa. He followed this up with four wickets as well.

Shaheen Afridi 6/15 vs IrelandPace, bounce and making the Irish lads hop around. This was an awesome spell from the Pakistan quick.

Kamlesh Nagarkoti's pace like fireNothing gets cricket fans excited like genuine pace, and Nagarkoti has lots of it. To see someone so young bowling at 145kph is fantastic. He took 3/29 in India's 100-run win over Australia and almost broke the stumps against Papua New Guinea.

Darwish Rasooli's big hittingAfghanistan cricket is rising so fast it is hard to keep up. The latest big hitter to emerge is Darwish Rasooli, who followed up his 76* against Pakistan with 63 against Sri Lanka.

Phillips snares a stunnerGetting both hands to this one was a great effort – let alone taking it. A superb diving catch from New Zealand's Dale Phillips.

Jason Ralston 7/15 vs Papua New GuineaRight-arm seamer Ralston broke records with this spell against Papua New Guinea as he absolutely destroyed the opposition.

Harry Brook 102 (84) vs BangladeshThe England men's team have been leading the way with explosive hitting in one-day cricket, and Harry Brook showed that the next generation are capable of some big shots too, in this knock against Bangladesh. One of three centuries by England players in the tournament so far.

Nathan McSweeney 156 (111) vs Papua New GuineaThere have been some fine hundreds in this U19 World Cup so far, but none have been as destructive as this effort from Australia's Nathan McSweeney. He hit 18 fours and four sixes.

Naveen-ul-Haq's direct hitThere was composure and accuracy from Afghanistan's Naveen-ul-Haq with this direct-hit run-out against Sri Lanka. He swoops on this one and hits the stumps from halfway out to the boundary.

Hoyte's reaction grabThis one was absolutely smashed straight back at West Indies' Jarion Hoyte from Matthew Breetzke and the bowler did brilliantly to hang on. He parried it up in the air before spinning round to take the catch. Brilliant reactions.