WATCH | Pakistan give Shubman Gill two lifelines in one ball to finish century
Shubman Gill’s widely applauded century against Pakistan in the U-19 WC semi-final should be massively credited to Pakistan’s consecutive blunders that gave him two lifelines in a ball. After surviving a close run-out at 99, his 100th run saw the bowler over-stepping and fielder dropping the catch.
Gill’s magnificent century which helped India post a comprehensive target of 271 runs against Pakistan, broke numerous records on the way. He became the first batsman to score a century in an India-Pakistan U19 World Cup match, the previous highest score was Salman Butt's unbeaten 85. He also became the first batsman to score six consecutive fifty-plus scores in Youth ODI history.
As Gill basks in the accolades of his magnificent ton in a crucial game, which now puts India in a final face-off against Australia in the final of the tournament, it should be acknowledged that the exciting century was not all quality but also its share of fortune as well. The biggest of them came in the last three balls of the 49th over.
One of the main reasons Pakistan would love to forget this match would be the, wasting numerous run-out chances. In the fourth ball of the last over, Pakistan could have wrapped up Gill’s innings had they got their throw at the right end. After Ishan Porel hit Muhammad Musa to the point, Gill was well far from the striker’s end, but the fielder decided to throw the other direction.
An inexperience Gill looked unsettled by the close shave he had with fate and wanted to blast his way out of it in the very next ball, which it led to a mistimed shot up into the air to long-off with the batsman at 99 runs. However, not only did Gill see his catch dropped by the fielder, it turned out to be a no-ball too.