U19 World Cup: Pant downs Namibia as India cruise into semi-finals

Thrash minnows by 197 runs in last-eight encounter.

DUBAI: Wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant hit 111 off 96 balls as power-packed India demolished Namibia by 197 runs in Fatullah on Saturday to cruise into the semi-finals of the U19 World Cup.

All-rounder Anmolpreet Singh scored 41 and took 3-27 in his first appearance in the tournament as India piled up 349-6 after electing to bat first, and then bowled the African side out for 152 in 39 overs.

Three-time champions India will take on the winner of Sunday’s quarter-final between strong contenders England and Sri Lanka in the first semi-final in Mirpur on February 9.

Pant, the left-handed opener who had scored the fastest fifty in under-19 internationals off 18 balls against Nepal, smashed 14 boundaries and two sixes during his whirlwind 111.



Pant added 103 for the second wicket with Anmolpreet after captain Ishan Kishan had been caught and bowled by Fritz Coetzee for six in the third over.

That set the stage for an Indian assault with former schoolmates Sarfaraz Khan and Armaan Jaffar scoring aggressive half-centuries.

Sarfaraz hit a run-a-ball 76 and Armaan made 64 off 55 balls before a late blitz by Mahipal Lomror lifted India to the mammoth total.

Left-handed Lomror took 24 runs in the final over bowled by Coetzee, which included three sixes, as he returned unbeaten on 41 off 21 balls.

Namibia made an impressive start with openers SJ Loftie-Eaton (22) and Niko Davin (33) putting on 59 for the first wicket by the 10th over.



Skipper Zane Green made 27 to lift Namibia to 80-1, but the rest of the batting caved in as left-arm spinner Mayank Dagar supported his off-break partner Anmolpreet with 3-25.

“We set a good target with Pant leading the way, and then fielded and bowled well today,” said India captain Kishan. “It was nice to move into the semi-finals with such a good win.” 

Published in The Express Tribune, February 7^th, 2016.

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