Pant's century seals the game for India U-19

Brief Scores: India Under-19s:266 for 7 (Pant 118, Virat 71, Bhui 50) beat Afghanistan Under-19s:162 (Obaid 63, Ansari 5-37) by 104 runs.

Rishabh Pant's brilliant century combined with half-centuries from Virat Singh and captain Ricky Bhui helped India put up a total of 266 for 7. Pant smashed 117 runs in 98 balls with 14 boundaries and 4 sixes to help India recover after losing Ishan Kishan for a duck. Virat Singh joined hands with Pant to put up an 186-run stand. Virat's innings of 71 featured 7 fours and a six. Ricky Bhui came in after Pant was dismissed by Nasir Khan in the 32nd over. Virat Singh too was sent back to the pavillion in the next over and the Indian innings suffered a slump. Bhui kept guard of his wicket, to gain the lost momentum and scored a steady fifty to help India set a target of 267.

Afghanistan too seemed to face similar starting troubles as India, as Hazratullah was sent packing by IA Sayed in the first over. Naveed Obaid tried to set the tone for Afghanistan, as he smashed a brilliant 63 in 44 balls. The rest of the batsmen could not capitalise on Obaid's innings as they were skittled out for a mere 162. Zeeshan Ansari's fiver helped the Indian's to raze through the Afghanistani line-up.

India U-19 will face Bangladesh U-19 on Sunday in the finals of the tri-series.