The Indian colts produced a commanding performance to bulldoze Pakistan by 10 wickets in the first U-19 World Cup semifinal in Potchefstroom, South Africa, on Tuesday. It will be a record seventh-time appearance in the final for defending champions India.
Chasing a below-par 173, openers Yashasvi Jaiswal (105*) and Divyaansh Saxena (59*) knocked off the required runs in 35.2 overs. Jaiswal, who currently tops the run-getter list with 306 runs in the tournament, smashed eight fours and four sixes in his 112-ball innings, while Saxena had six boundaries to his name.
Earlier, Sushant Mishra (3/28), Kartik Tyagi (2/32) and Ravi Bishnoi (2/46) shared seven wickets among them, while Atharva Ankolekar (1/29) and Yashasvi Jaiswal (1/11) scalped one each to bowl out Pakistan for 172 in 43.1 overs.
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For Pakistan, skipper Rohail Nazir (62) and opener Haider Ali (56) cracked half-centuries but rest of the batsmen found the going tough. As many as eight Pakistan players failed to get into double figures.
The only time Pakistan looked to be gaining some foothold was during the 62-run stand between Haider and Rohail before Yashasvi's part-time leg-breaks saw the end of opener's effort that had nine fours.
Ali's 77-ball 56 contained nine hits to the fence, while Nazir smashed six boundaries in his 102 ball 62.
India will either face Bangladesh or New Zealand in the final.
(With PTI inputs)
