A century from the opener Rishabh Pant set up India Under-19s’ 104-run victory against Afghanistan Under-19s in Kolkata

ESPNcricinfo staff27-Nov-2015
ScorecardFile photo: Ricky Bhui stroked 50 to build on India’s Under-19s’ positive start•ICCA century from the opener Rishabh Pant set up India Under-19s’ 104-run victory against Afghanistan Under-19s in Kolkata. India, after being inserted, lost Ishan Kishan early, but Pant and Virat Singh counterattacked by stringing together a 186-run partnership. Pant played the more aggressive foil, striking 14 fours and four sixes for his 98-ball 118, while Virat’s 71 featured seven fours and a six. Both batsmen were dismissed in quick succession by the 33rd over, but the captain Ricky Bhui ensured the hosts’ momentum was not lost, stroking a handy 50 to guide the team to 266 for 7.Afghanistan did not begin their chase well, falling to 8 for 2 inside two overs. The opener Naveed Obaid fought with a 44-ball 63, but received little by way of support from his team-mates, who all failed to make good on their starts. Zeeshan Ansari was the pick of India’s bowlers, taking 5 for 37 to bundle Afghanistan out for 162 in 28 overs.India will now face Bangladesh in the final of the tri-series on Sunday.