Fatullah: Opener Rishabh Pant continued his prolific form in the ongoing ICC Under-19 World Cup scoring his third successive fifty-plus score to steered India into the semi-finals following a thumping 197-run victory over Namibia in the quarter-finals held on Saturday at the Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium in Narayanganj.  

Pant, who had blasted the fastest U-19 international half-century during the win against Nepal, scored 111 off 96 balls laced 14 fours and two sixes, powering his team to a massive total of 349 for 6 from their allotted 50 overs.  

India, batting first after winning the toss, did not make the best of starts, though, as the captain Ishan Kishan was dismissed for 6 in the third over.  

However, Pant and Anmolpreet Singh led a recovery, put up 103 runs for the second wicket. Pant added a further 62 for the third wicket with Sarfaraz Khan before falling in the 29th over. Still, Namibia failed to dry up the runs, as Sarfaraz (76), Armaan Jaffer (64) and Mahipal Lomror (41n.o) all chipped in with handy knocks to lift the team past the 300-run mark.  

Fritz Coetzee was the most successful bowler for Namibia taking 3 for 78, but went at more than seven per over, as did four other players.  

In reply, Namibia began their huge run-chase promisingly, as the openers SJ Loftie-Eaton and Niko Davin razed 59 inside 10 overs.

However, the dismissal of Davin opened the floodgates, as the team went on to lose wickets at regular intervals, eventually getting bowled out for 152.  

Left-arm spinner Mayank Dagar shone with figures of 3 for 25, while Anmolpreet bagged 3 for 27 runs; Namibia were dismissed in 39 overs.  

Rishabh Pant OF India was named the player of the match for his impressive batting performance.

Forthcoming Super League quarter-finals:

7 Feb - England v Sri Lanka, Mirpur

8 Feb – Pakistan v West Indies, Fatullah

Semi-final line-up:

9 Feb – India v England/Sri Lanka, Mirpur

11 Feb – Bangladesh v Pakistan/West Indies, Mirpur

Plate Championship (play/offs):

7 Feb - Ireland v Canada, Cox’s Bazar

8 Feb - South Africa v Zimbabwe, Cox’s Bazar; Scotland v Fiji, Cox’s Bazar

9 Feb - New Zealand v Afghanistan, Cox’s Bazar