Sports Reporter :
India Under-19 Cricket team reached the semi-finals of the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup thrashing Namibia by 197 runs in the second quarterfinal at the Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium in Fatullah on Saturday.
Wicketkeeper-batsman RR Pant of India cracked an impressive 111 from 96 balls featuring 14 fours and two sixes. RR Pant was adjudged the Man of the Match for his excellent performance.
Electing to bat first, India piled up a mammoth total of 349 for the loss of six wickets in the stipulated 50 overs and then bundled out Namibia for 152 off 39 overs.
India made a shaky start losing their opener Ishan Kishan for six when India’s total was 18 for the loss of one wicket.
After removal of Kishan, RR Pant and Anmolpreet Singh repaired the early damage adding together 103 runs for the second wicket partnership before Anmolpreet was caught at the deep mid-wicket by Rautenbach off Davin when India’s score was 121 for the loss of two wickets.
After dismissal of Anmolpreet, RR Pant and SN Khan built another notable partnership. They added together 62 runs for the third wicket stand before Pant was caught at the deep mid-wicket by M van Lingen off Rautenbach when India’s score total was 183 for the loss of three wickets.
After departure of RR Pant, SN Khan and Arman Jaffer put on together 98 runs in the fourth wicket partnership before SN Khan was caught at the long-off by Louwrens of Coetzee when India’s total was 281 for the loss of four wickets.
After dismissal of Khan, Jaffer and MK Lomror added together 37 runs for the fifth wicket partnership before Jaffer was caught at the long-off by Louwrens off Coetzee when India’s score was 318 for the loss of five wickets.
SN Khan notched up a run-a-ball 76 hitting six fours and a sixer, while Jaffer hit a superb 64 from 55 balls featuring four fours and a six.
MK Lomror remained unbeaten with 41. His 21-ball quick-fire innings was decorated with three sixes and a four, while Anmolpreet made 41 off 42 balls including five fours and a sixer.
E Coetzee of Namibia captured three wickets at the cost of 78 runs.
Namibia made a good start with SJ Eaton and N Davin, the two openers added 59 runs before Davin was bowled by Batham.
After dismissal of Davin, Indian bowlers dominated over the African batsmen and Namibia failed to build any notable partnership.
Davin hit 33 from 30 balls featuring five fours and a sixer.
Besides, ZE Green, J Linde, SJ Eaton added 27, 25 and 22 runs respectively to the Namibia total.
MJ Dagar and Anmolpreet Singh grabbed three wickets each for 25 and 27 runs respectively while Washington Sundar bagged a pair of wickets for 27 runs.
India will play against the winner of the fourth quarter-final match between England and Sri Lanka in the semi-final. The fourth quarter-final match will be held at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur today. The semi-final between India and winner of England and Sri Lanka will be held at the same venue on February 9.
