Delhi youngster Rishabh Pant's stroked a fluent 87 and left-arm paceman Khaleel Ahmed claimed four for 41 to steer India to a comfortable 33-run win over Afghanistan in the Under-19 tri-series match, in Kolkata, on Saturday.
The victory took India's tally to nine points from two games, having beaten Bangladesh in their opening game on Friday.
Electing to bat, India were all out for 236 in 50 overs befpore bowling out Afghanistan for 203 in 47.3 overs. Apart from Khaleel, it was Bengal's left-arm spinner Pradipta Pramanik (2 for 34), who bowled an impressive 10-over spell.
In a side with as many as eight changes to the one that beat Bangladesh, Rahul Dravid's wards lived up to the head coach's expectation as they again dominated the proceedings from the start.
India lost their first wicket early when Washington Sundar (2) was dismissed with only five on the board. It was the stockily built Pant, who laid the foundation in his two fifty-plus partnerships with Amandeep Khare (24) and captain Ricky Bhui (27).
Delhi's Ranji Trophy wicketkeeper-batsman Pant had 10 boundaries and two sixes in his 88-ball knock.
Pant fell to a dubious leg before decision and was soon followed by skipper Bhui, both of whom fell in space of seven runs. It was No. 6 batsman Mahipal Lomror, who chipped in with an useful 43 to take India to a defendable total on a slow wicket.
Brief Scores:
India U-19 236 in 50 overs (Rishabh Pant 87, Mahipal Lomror 43; Rashid Khan 4/47) vs Afghanistan U-19 203 in 47.3 overs (Rashid Arman 43, Mohammad Sardar Wali 33; Khaleel Ahmed 4/41, Lomror 2/31, Pradipta Pramanik 2/34).
