India marched into the final of the ICC U-19 cricket World Cup on the back of a thumping 203-run win over arch-rival Pakistan at the Hagley Oval on Tuesday.
Shubman Gill's workman like knock of 102 off 94 balls helped India post a formidable target of 273 in the second semifinal. The Indian inning was aided by some ordinary fielding effort from Pakistan as it conceded 75 runs in the last 10 overs.
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Pakistan in reply, never got going as its top order crumbled under the pressure created by Shivam Mavi (4-3-6-0) and Ishan Porel (6-2-17-4). Porel reaped the benefits from the tight bowling which was backed by sharp catching to have the opposition reeling at 28-4 at the end of his six over spell.
The spinners Shiva Singh and Riyan Parag continued to keep the pressure on the middle order before Pakistan lost all its wickets for 69 inside 30 overs and fell to its heaviest defeat in this level.
Having won the toss in the morning, Prithvi Shaw lead the way the bat alongside Manjot Kalra in a 89-run opening stand before the former was run-out for 41 by Muhammad Musa. Musa then had Kalra caught behind in his next over.
Gill's merry run
Gill, snapped up by Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League auction for Rs. 1.8 crore on Sunday, built his innings at a run a ball rate mostly with singles and doubles. He strung together two crucial partnerships of 54 and 67 with Harvik Desai and Anukul Roy for the fourth and sixth wicket.
Gill's century, the first by an Indian batsman in the tournament, came in the final over of the inning. This was Gill's fourth consecutive score of 50 runs or more in the World Cup and averages over 150.
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"It was special for me as it was against Pakistan," said the Punjab batsman at the end of the match.
"The pitch wasn't good to bat against spinners. The thought was to put good total on the board and the pacers will do the job for the team," said Gill, reflecting on his knock.
When asked in which format he preferred playing in: " It's all about adapting to all formats."
The three-time champion will face Australia in the final on February 3 at the Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui.
Brief Scores:
India: 272/9 in 50 overs. (Shubman Gill 102*, Manjot Kalra 47; Muhammad Musa 4/67, Arshad Iqbal 3/51)
Pakistan: 69 all-out in 29.3 overs. (Rohail Nazir 18; Ishan Porel 4/17, Riyan Parag 2/6)
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