India in semis, beat Namibia by 197 runs

Namibia were handed a 197-run pasting by the proficient Indian team in the second quarter-final of the ICC U19 CWC 2016 at Fatullah Stadium today.

Namibia were well placed at 80 for 2 in the 16 th over. However, they lost their last eight wickets for 72 runs as Indian spinners ran rings around their flat-footed batters.

For India, both Mayank Dagar and Anmolpreet Singh took three wickets each. Washington Sundar chipped in with two wickets in six overs.

Namibia’s Niko gavin was the highest scorer for his side, he managed 33 from 30 balls. Three Namibian batsmen made twenties but failed to carry on.

Although the target of 350 runs was beyond the reach of Namibia, they failed to rise to the occasion, and the gulf of difference in terms of talent between the two teams was too evident in this lop-sided game.

India’s batsmen took Namibia’s bowlers to sword and spanked them to their hearts’ content in the crucial quarter-final tie of the ICC U19 CWC at Fatullah stadium.

Namibia managed to get an early wicket in the third over, but from then their nightmare began as India’s Rishabh Pant, Sarfaraz Khan, Arman Jaffer and Mahipal Lomror plundered whatever captain Zane Green threw at them and piled up 349 for six in 50 overs.

Pant took the center-stage early, and made his good form count with a breezy knock at the top. His 111 in 96 balls set the tone for the late assault, and he peppered the field with 14 fours and two sixes during his stay at the wicket.

He was instrumental in the second wicket partnership of 103 runs with Anmolpreet, and gave the platform for the middle and lower order batters to take-off from…something Jaffer and Lomror did spectacularly.

Jaffer hammered 64 from 55 with four fours and a six late in the innings, while Lomror made a mess of Namibian bowling figures with 41 runs in just 21 balls. He signed off with 24 runs in the last over.

With fielding lapses, couple of drop catches, Namibia looked totally out of sorts today, and they were ruthlessly punished for the error-strewn display at Fatullah by the tournament favourites.

India romped to the quarter-finals of the tournament with crushing victories over Ireland, New Zealand and Nepal.