2018 Under-19 World Cup: India v Pakistan - Hits and Misses

The much-anticipated India v Pakistan encounter in the second semi-final of the ICC Under-19 World Cup proved to be yet another one-sided affair, as India thrashed their arch-rivals by 203 runs to set up an exciting clash with Australia as the last hurdle.

Prithvi Shaw won the toss and decided to bat first, a decision that proved to be spot on at the end of the game. Riding on the back of a tremendous century from Shubman Gill, India scored in excess of 270 in the first innings.

The Indian bowling unit, that has been impressive throughout the tournament, stepped up once again to bundle up Pakistan for just 69 runs in less than 30 overs.

Here are the hits and misses from India's thumping victory:

Hit: Shubman Gill

Gill was finally able to cross the three-figure mark in the semi-final of the tournament

After scoring three big half-centuries in the last three games, the Indian vice-captain would be glad to have converted his fifty into a hundred this time around. Gill looked in exceptional touch right from the word go and with an array of beautifully-timed shots, played a sensational knock of 102 from just 94 deliveries.

He remained unbeaten throughout and his sublime batting was the key to India scoring a respectable 272-9 in the first innings. His 100th run came in a dramatic manner on the last ball of the innings.

He was head and shoulders above the rest and his beautiful shotmaking was a treat to watch. The youngster is really good on both sides of the wicket and backs himself to play his shots at any junction of the innings.

Miss: Shaheen Afridi

Afridi could not trouble the Indian batsmen with his pace

This 17-year-old was touted to be the mainstay of the Pakistan bowling attack in this tournament. However, the left-arm fast bowler could not live up to the expectations from him in the semi-final.

He scalped a solitary wicket in the match and that too was of a lower-order batsman. He failed to pressurize the Indian top order at the beginning of the innings and was punished by some brilliant stroke-making at the hands of the Indian vice-captain.

In his ten-over spell, Afridi gave away 62 runs at an economy of 6.2 runs per over. For a bowler who is expected to be the next best thing for Pakistan cricket, these numbers are certainly disappointing.

Hit: Indian opening pair

Shaw and Kalra have been consistent as a pair throughout the tournament

Gill might've been the Man of the Match for India, but the foundation was set by the Indian opening batsmen for the vice-captain to come in at Number 3 and bludgeon the Pakistan attack all across the ground.

Both Prithvi Shaw and Manjot Kalra added valuable 40-plus scores to the Indian total. Their strong performance upfront meant that Pakistan could not get a wicket in the first powerplay of the game, thereby swinging the momentum in India's favour.

They put up 89 for the first wicket before Shaw had to walk back to the pavilion for a well-made 41, courtesy an unnecessary run-out. The Indian skipper batted at a strike rate of 97.62 in the knock, which included three boundaries and one massive six over wide long-on.

Kalra missed out on a well-deserved fifty when he was dismissed for 47 by Muhammad Musa in the 18th over of the innings.

Miss: Pakistan batting line-up

Pakistan were all out for 69

When the entire team gets bowled out for 69 in a 50-over game, there is no point in pinning the blame to a particular batsman. Pakistan were just not good enough with the bat and their attempt to chase the Indian total was dismal, to say the least.

Wicket-keeper, Rohail Nazair, with his 18, was the highest scorer of the innings. There was no steady partnership in the middle and it all seemed to unravel for Hasan Khan's men from the second the chase began.

The Indian bowling unit was definitely on the money throughout the game, but Pakistan were equally responsible for the meek total, considering the way they threw their wickets away in the game.

Hit: Ishan Porel

Porel scalped four tickets in the big clash

After going unsold in the IPL auction that took place over the last weekend (January 27-28), Ishan Porel responded to the snub with vigour and valiance in the semi-final against Pakistan on Tuesday (January 30).

After Indian pacer, Shivam Mavi put tremendous pressure on the batsmen and bowled three back-to-back maidens, Porel stepped up to the occasion and bagged as many four wickets in his six-over spell.

He dismissed four of the top 5 batsmen of Pakistan and crippled their chase before they could even get going. He gave away just 17 runs in six overs, bowled two maidens in his spell and was extremely impressive with his bowling throughout the game.