U-19 World Cup: Record-breaking Pant helps India maintain winning run

Rishabh Pant’s 50 off 18 balls is the fastest recorded half-century in the history of Under-19 internationals.

Wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant smashed his way into the record books with a 24-ball 78 as India gave Nepal a rude reality check by handing them a seven-wicket hammering to finish their league engagements unbeaten in the ICC Under-19 World Cup, in Mirpur, on Monday.

- Scorecard

The Rahul Dravid-coached India will meet Bangladesh or Namibia in the quarter-finals.

Pant, who scored 50 off 18 balls to record the fastest fifty ever in the Under-19 Cricket World Cup, hit nine fours and five sixes during his knock as India cruised to the victory target of 170 in only 18.1 overs.

Nepal, the surprise package of the tournament, were blown away as Rishabh and skipper Ishan Kishan (52) -- both Ranji Trophy players -- added 124 runs in nine overs, giving the 1500-odd spectators some breathtaking shots to savour.

The left-handed Pant, who is known for his clean stroke-making, is believed to be on the wish list of many franchises for the upcoming Indian Premier League auction on February 6.

Earlier, India's bowlers, led by Avesh Khan (3-34), restricted the Himalayan nation to 169 for 8 in the match that was reduced to 48 overs.

Washington Sundar and Mayank Dagar also got a couple of wickets each.

A compulsive puller, Pant teed off by hitting seamer Aarif Sheikh to the cow corner for a couple of sixes.

A strong player on the on-side, the lad from Roorkee who has honed his skills at Delhi's famous Sonnet Club, lofted Dipendra Airee over deep mid-wicket region for three huge sixes.

He could have walked away with a hundred had he not tried an expansive inside-out shot off Prem Tamang, only to be bowled.

Asked if he was in a hurry, the stocky and cocky Pant replied: "I was not in a hurry. I was just playing my normal game. Rahul Sir told me to stick to the basics."

Pant is being hailed in Indian cricketing circles as the 'Next Big Thing' with at least four franchises going to bid hard for the boy, whose base price is just Rs 10 lakh.

Delhi Daredevils, Kolkata Knight Riders and Mumbai Indians, all want him in the team.

Brief scores of the day's matches:

Group B: Afghanistan beat Canada by four wickets in Sylhet 

Canada 147 all out, 50 overs (Arslan Khan 38, Abraash Khan 33; Muslim Musa 3-31, Shamsurrahman Wali 3-21).

Afghanistan 149-6, 24.1 overs (Tariq Stanikzai 56, Ihsanullah Janat 31; Miraj Patel 3-17).

Group D: India beat Nepal by seven wickets in Mirpur

Nepal 169-8, 48 overs (Sandeep Sunar 37, Rajbir Singh 35; Avesh Khan 3-34, Mayank Dagar 2-32, Washington Sundar 2-20).

India 175-3, 18.1 overs (Rishabh Pant 78, Ishan Kishan 52).

Group D: New Zealand beat Ireland by four wickets in Fatullah

Ireland 212 all out, 47.5 overs (Jack Tector 56, Adam Dennison 46; Rachin Ravindra 3-36, Josh Finnie 3-20).

New Zealand 213-6, 40.1 overs (Finn Allen 97, Dale Phillips 58; Rory Anders 4-32).

Tuesday’s matches:

Group A: Bangladesh v Namibia, Cox’s Bazar

Group A: South Africa v Scotland, Cox’s Bazar

Group C: West Indies v Zimbabwe, Chittagong

Super League quarter-finals line-up:

Feb 5: Bangladesh-Namibia winner v Nepal, Mirpur

Feb 6: India v Bangladesh-Namibia loser, Fatullah

Feb 7: England v Pakistan-Sri Lanka loser, Mirpur

Feb 8: Pakistan-Sri Lanka winner v West Indies-Zimbabwe winner, Fatullah

Plate Championship quarter-finals line-up:

Feb 4: South Africa-Scotland winner v Ireland; New Zealand v South Africa-Scotland loser

Feb 5: Afghanistan v C4; Canada v C3

Points table

Group A

Group B

Group C

Group D

● The top two sides from each group progress to the Super League stage while the bottom two sides feature in the Plate Championship.

Image: India batsman Rishabh Pant bats during his record-breaking innings against Nepal in the Under-19 World Cup match on Monday.