icc-under-19-world-cup-india-u19-vs-pakistan-u19-semi-final

The final can wait, though. For now, India can afford to celebrate all they want. And as this first semi-final comes to an end, it is also time to say goodbye from our end. It was a pleasure covering this matchup and we have to say that we've learnt quite a few things from today's encounter. Stick around though, we still have our takeaways from the game coming up. But this will be curtains for the live blog. Until next time, this is Anirudh and Bastab signing off. Goodbye and Goodnight! 

If there ever was any doubt on how good this Indian team actually is, before today's match begun, it must have been well and truly buried by now. After losing the toss and bowling first, the pacers relegiously stuck to their plans - that of attacking the Pakistan batsmen continously with short balls - and even when the duo of Nazir and Haider threatened to take the game away, skipper Priyam Garg kept his cool and trusted his bowlers to deliver. And deliver they did, led by the holy trio of Kartik Tyagi, Ravi Bishnoi and Sushant Mishra, bowling out Pakistan cheaply for a modest total of 172.

And needing 173 to win, the opening duo of Jaiswal and Saxena were untroubled from ball one and despite getting off to a relatively slow start, the duo trusted their ability, kept their composure and kept the runs ticking. Eventually, they bored Pakistan out with their rock-solid defence and when the bowlers started to wear down, they took full toll, switching gears just at the right time to completely shut down the possibility of a Pakistan win. Whilst Saxena, surprisingly, took charge initially, he passed the baton to Jaiswal pretty soon, and the youngster from Mumbai once again showed the whole world why he is rated so highly, propelling the team into the final with an unbeaten. Fittingly, Jaiswal got to his ton and sealed victory for India with a six, almost in a way summarizing how dominant Priyam Garg's men were, right from the very first ball.

The winner of New Zealand or Bangladesh await the young Indian team on Sunday, but if today's performance was anything to go by, you'd imagine that Garg's Men would be heavy favorites to register their second consecutive title. 

"It is a dream come true for me. Really happy with what I did for my country, I can't express it in words. I'll never forget that I scored a hundred in the World Cup against Pakistan. It is just the start though, I have to work really hard in the future as well. We (Saxena and me) were talking amongst ourselves that we needed to stay on the wicket. They bowled well initially and we had to see it out. All of us, our support staff, physio, manager, they put in the effort and I want to thank all the Indians who prayed for us. We will try our best in the finals," said the youngster speaking to Bishop post his heroic knock.

India, who have now qualified for their third consecutive final, will take on the winner of the battle between Bangladesh and New Zealand on Sunday. We hope it won't be a one-sided encounter as it was today!

HUNDRED: What a fine knock this is from Yashasvi Jaiswal!👌👌

The left-hander scores a match-winning ton in the #U19CWC semi-final against Pakistan. 👏👏

For the #INDvPAK game scorecard 👇👇https://t.co/xkcH8vkq0v pic.twitter.com/A6DCpU1kHU

— BCCI (@BCCI) February 4, 2020

100........... AND THAT'S IT!

For India, JAISWAL IS DOING BOBALLL!!!!!

A big Bishop fan, I am quoting him again, "He is a guy belongs many levels above his paygrade." 

A SIX TO COMPLETE THE RUN CHASE!!!! CELEBRATIONS ALL AROUND FROM INDIA!

THINGS LEVEL NOW AS FAR AS THEIR HEAD TO HEAD AGAINST PAKISTAN U-19 GOES IN THE WORLD CUPS BUT AS OF NOW, INDIA ARE THE FINALISTS WITH A 10-WICKET WIN.

THE KIDS just did what the men failed to do seven months ago. A semi-final win to remind everyone the mighty and glorious time in Indian cricket.

It is easy-peasy for India now but the only matter of interest is can Jaiswal do the same thing that Shubman Gill did a couple of years ago? Gill scored a century against the Pakistanis in the 2018 edition of the tournament after being dropped by current skipper Rohail Nazir.

The captain is down on the ground and needs some medical treatment! He seems to be limping off the ground now! Remember he is a keeper too! Who will be keeping wickets now?

It is Mohammed Haris who has taken the gloves in his absence. The next KL Rahul?

There are only three guarantees in life: death, taxes and a Jaiswal 50 in the #U19WC

— Jake Lush McCrum (@JakeLushMcCrum) February 4, 2020

I am sure this team can beat many international teams now. Well, if you think that is going too far, look at the scorecard and decide it for yourself. They are yet to lose a wicket and what the scorecard won't tell you that they didn't give a single chance too. That is dominance of another level. I don't care who they face in the final, my money is on Priyam Garg and his band of boys to lift the trophy aloft come Sunday.

Jaiswal just guided Aamir Ali to third man and this has been a recurring pattern. He knows how to steal runs - the very lack of it put Pakistan in a situation of being satisfied with a modest 172 runs on the board. There is nothing to be had honestly and it is only about time when Jaiswal will get to his century to put India in their third consecutive final. Just needs eight runs to reach his century.

Back to back sixes and Jaiswal is now the highest run-getter of this U19 World Cup. There was a mountain of pressure on his shoulders heading into this tournament owing to the reputation he'd built for himself in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, but boy hasn't he lived up to the expectations. We might just be seeing a generational talent right in front of our eyes, I tell you!

Now we have come to the fomality zone and Anirudh has handed over the responsibilities to me to guide you through the process. He has done the tough job of jotting down during the most boring, for the lack of a better word or perhaps that is the best word, phase, so bear with me until the end. 

And as I take over, it suddenly started to pick up pace. Jaiswal has hit two back-to-back sixes to cruise towards his century. He is just 12 runs away from a historic century. Divyaansh then joined the party and now not holding back at all. Interesting how many 10-wicket victories there have been in the tournament so far.

Pakistan are persisting with the part-time leg spin of Fahad and they, now, seem to have completely given up. The captaincy and bowling is pleading the Indian batsmen to finish the job and be done with the match as soon as possible, so that they can go back to their hotel rooms and chill. 

Meanwhile, Diyaansh Saxena brings up his fifty. A very well composed, well constructed innings, that. His second fifty of the tournament after his unbeaten 52 against New Zealand a few days ago. Just 40 more runs needed now. 

Yashasvi Jaiswal (279) needs 8 more runs to overtake Sri Lanka's Ravindu Rasantha as the tournament's highest run-getter. Can he do it? Incidentally, the Lankan batsman was also the first victim of Jaiswal's leg-spin in this U19 World Cup. Fate. Funny how it works. 

This boy, I tell you. Once again, puts pressure on the bowler in the very first ball of the over by taking the aerial route and smacking one over mid-wicket. His game awareness is incredible. I'm in awe of Jaiswal's maturity. 

Divyaansh has completely switched off for the timing. And when I say switched off, he is literally NOT INTERESTED in doing anything. The bowler just delivered a low full-toss to him which he gently punched down the ground to long-on. It also kinda describes how little effort the Indian batsmen have had to put in this whole innings. 

Jaiswal, who is batting on 61*, has raced past his partner at the other end, who has been stuck in the 40s for over 30 minutes now. Sanity restored, should I say? It also speaks volumes about this youngster's ability to switch gears at will and delfate the bowlers at the right time. He did take his time during the start of the innings, mind you. 

I have to admit that Pakistan's spinners have been extremely disappointing. Their body language, for starters, has been terrible, and worse, their lines and lenghts have been atrocious. India continue to make merry without putting an ounce of an effort. 

Qasim is bowling pies out there, but both Jaiswal and Saxena are kind enough to let him get away with it. 65 runs needed off 25 overs and right now, even if Pakistan end up taking two hat-tricks in the next two overs, I doubt if they'd go on to win the match. 

We are just one over away from the half-way mark and at this point in time, there is only one team that's playing to win. There's only one team that looks hungry to win and there's only one team that is going to end up winning. India it is.  And oh, the Amir Khan experiment failed miserably. Skipper Nazir took him off the attack after just one over, thanks to the Jaiswal assault. 

Yashasvi Jaiswal has now scored four fifty-plus scores in this tournament, the most by any player. And as I write this, his average for the tournament has surpassed 130. 

Over the years, we have been spoilt by many rags-to-riches story and so many stories have become regulation enough to be considered boring. But I can never get the enough of this kid doing such things on a cricket field, as Ian Bishop rightly said on air, "seems like a guy well above his paygrade." The clarity in his strokes, his audacity to take the most difficult of bowlers with nimble feet movement, Jaiswal cuts a figure of a man. If he doesn't go on to become an established international cricketer, probably everything in this world is flawed. 

Bringing Amir Khan back seemed like kinda the last throw of the dice for Rohail Nazir, but given that Jaiswal put the bowler to the sword, it looks like Pakistan are now running out of options and time. It looks like a matter of when more than if. I guess it would be interesting to see if Jaiswal goes for a ton now. Not long ago, my colleague Aakash was talking about the Mumbaikar repeating Gill's heroics from 2018. I shunned down that possibility 2 hours ago, but now it looks like it might just happen. Hmm. 

FIFTY for JAISWAL! What a talent this young lad is. Let me tell you, he is here to win the game for his country. He nonchalantly whacks Amir Khan over the head off the mid-on fielder, before executing a flick to perfection to bring up his FOURTH FIFTY of the tournament. This boy is special. He is very, very special. 

AND THAT IS ALSO THE 100-RUN PARTNERSHIP FOR THE DUO OF JAISWAL AND SAXENA! 

Pakistan are in dire need of making something happen here. Do something different, you know? It is just all too easy for the Indian team right now and it is kind of disappointing to see the fallen heads of the Pakistani players. 

It's all Ctrl C + Ctrl V right now. The same pattern is being followed in every over and India are running away with the chase. To rub salt into the wounds of Pakistan, an edge off Saxena's bat just raced away to the boundary. 

No change to the tempo on the other side of the break, just in case you were expecting something different. It is a "who can bore each other out more" battle going on right now and let me tell you, India wouldn't mind this one bit. They would happily play the boring game and walk away with this chase. Can someone remind Pakistan that they have a semi-final to win?

Yashasvi Jaiswal comes out to open the batting for India.

Earlier in the day, @navkrish55 caught up with his long-time coach Jwala Singh who says despite Jaiswal being India's leading runscorer so far this tournament, is still waiting for "a big one" from his player.#U19CWC pic.twitter.com/28bkKojShL

— Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) February 4, 2020

These segments are fun, actually. Remember when Kohli, back in 2008, stated that Herschelle Gibbs was his favorite player? Saxena has gone for a very straightforward choice, though. 

I usually don't look forward to drinks break in matches, for it ends up killing the momentum, but boy wasn't this needed. This has been an extremely dull chase thus far. Let's hope that both teams turn up the intensity a bit more on the other side of the break. For now, though, it looks like India are going to book their place in the Final for all money. The Pakistan bowlers look deflated and defeated. 

FINALLY! FINALLY! FINALLY! Some entertainment. And it has come from the bat of Yashasvi Jaiswal, who went to his knees and smacked the left-arm spinner for a hugeeeee six! More of this please, Mr, Y! I will buy you a Tiramisu (reminder to my friend that I'm owed one) if you could keep doing this. 

I've to be honest, Pakistan's bowling, bar one or two good deliveries from Amir Khan, has been toothless today. I thought the Pakistani duo of Haider and Nazir were batting untroubled, but looking at Jaiswal and Saxena bat, you get a feeling that they could take a 15-minute nap and still resume their innings unscatched. 

First look of Aamir Ali, the left-arm spinner, then. Jaiswal took the first 'risk' we've seen all innings, moving towards the off-side to play a sweep. The ball struck him in the front but he survived the appeal.

He was unsuccesfful in putting the ball away but his partner, however, did it to perfection, playing a lovely slog sweep over deep mid-wicket to take 7 runs off the spinner's first over. Finally some intent from the Indians. 

Slow and steady wins the race. It seems like Paras Mhambrey is very clear with his words ahead of the final. Saxena and Jaiswal haven't taken a single risk so far, yet they have crossed the 50-run mark happily. A classic case of how Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan approach their partnership. I am alll but sure the duo are the future of Mumbai cricket.

A couple of fours to get going and India are further solidifying their position in the game! Pakistan are nowhere close to having a bowling impact so far. 

Taking a clue from India's U19 structure, Pakistan Cricket Board have started taking things in the same direction. They appointed Ijaz Ahmed as the coach of the U-19 side, in the same line as Rahul Dravid, giving the charge of a lot of things. Things will take some time to change but there needs to be a start. And this is one. Few Pakistan players are for the future, sans the understanding of the big occasion, and it will be an occasion to savour if they can topple this Indian team. Right now, that looks unlikely though.

With nimble feet and a fluid movement of feet, Saxena seems more comfortable against Qasim Akram than the pace duo. He has already overtaken Jaiswal but that is not even half the job done. 

With nine wickets from four games, Afridi has a reputation to maintain and Pakistan need him badly to break India's opening partnership. However, that can wait. Saxena'll have some more fun. Drove the ball for a four to third man - of course, through an edge. Chand, meanwhile, is on and going a trip down the memory lane after ignoring my phone call for the same story. Welll, I am disappointed, Unmukt.

THAT WAS CLASSY!

Saxena hits the overpitched Amir Khan delivery on the up and the ball raced away to the boundary like a tracer bullet, as Ravi Shaz would like to say. This guy has taken my slow batting comment personally. Sorry Kid, I was just being cocky. You can carry on.

Normal service resumes as Saxena, I am sure he will surely be opening for Mumbai Ranji team in a couple of years, is defending like he doesn't care. Guys, we are in for a long day! The chase is not going to be done and dusted in a whip! Sit down and savour!

What a delivery by Kartik tyagi to dismiss irfan khan in the #U19CWC.. 🔥🔥🔥#INDvsPAK pic.twitter.com/UKQDdB3J4V

— Toshi (@saffron_sword3) February 4, 2020

In the meantime, Unmukt Chand, in the commentary box, is a giving a perspective on what Tahir and Amir Khan should do to contain the duo of Saxena and Jaiswal. He is very good with his analysis but the mind automatically wanders back to that 2012 day in Townsville when he ran onto the ground after Harmeet Singh hit the winning run against the William Bossisto-led Australia side. The likes of Cameron Bancroft, Kurtis Patterson, Travis Head, Joel Paris, Gurinder Sandhu, Sandeep Sharma, and Hanuma Vihari went on to play for their respective countries but the most promising player of the lot faltered on the wayside. Tells a story about the life and stardom of an U-19 cricket - one of tragic, that we don't often talk about.

Normally, it is Saxena who plays clamly and Jaiswal who takes the big risks. But with a target of only 173 runs in sight, they are playing cautiously now. Saxena, in fact, has a better SR than Jaiswal. Heard that before? Well, it is for real.

Five straight dot balls by Amir Khan. Scratch that! Make it six. That's a maiden over! But not for one delivery in the entire over did Jaiswal seems hurried; he knew how to dominate. India needs 153 more runs to win from 44 overs.

Tahir Hussain bowled an exceptional over, but Indian batsmen were too smart to negotiate things. The one that Saxena clipped it down the leg was the highlight, indicating the hard time that is waiting for the Pakistani colts at the Swenes Park today. Signs are ominous.

Mohammad Amir Khan is into the attack, replacing Qasim Akram from the Cargo Motors End. He has express pace, something that might test Jaiswal big-time. In fact, it did, beating Jaiswal's bat with sheer pace on the penultimate ball of the over. But they need to do this contastly in order to have a crack! The total is too less for Pakistan to afford playing the waiting game!

Nazir has kept a very open field for Tahir Hussain which is against the common belief. It is too much reading but Jaiswal is good in his feet movement. So that might mean counter-intuitive. That Jaiswal made room for himself to guide the first ball to third man speaks of itself. Nazir needs to realise it sooner or the game slips away.

The prodigy from Mumbai has been dismissed just TWICE all tournament and he has an average north of 100. He already looks in impeccable touch, having scored a boundary on just his seventh ball, so ominous signs for Pakistan, I suppose? You'd imagine that they'd need Jaiswal's wicket within the first 8 overs to have any chance of defending this modest total. 

Spinner into the attack in just the second over the innings. Qasim Akram is in - but what a pity this is! This is everythig against what Pakistan cricket stands for - the pace is the Jazba, it is the passion, but times have changed and how!

Jaiswal classically flicks him to mid-wicket with sheer disdain to get going. Too easy!

The duo of Jaiswal and Saxena go a long back - they have had many partnerships for Dadar Union, Dilip Vengsarkar Foundation, Mumbai’s age-group teams and now India Under-19 squads. And they have gradually become best friends too. The time is now for the duo to settle down and guide India to win. 

Jaiswal, in the process, adds the first brick to India's run-chase. With a fine drive against Tahir, he opened his own account and India's too.

Yashasvi Jaiswal to take strike for India, Tahir Hussain to open the bowling for Pakistan and the target is 173. Here we go!

What an outstanding catch this was from Divyaansh Saxena 🙌

All the action from today's game is on our website!#U19CWC | #INDvPAK | #FutureStarshttps://t.co/CP8UAgAY1Y

— Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) February 4, 2020

Pakistan batsmen, especially Rohail Nazir and Haider Ali, showed signs of promise but hey, you can't win the war by winning just two mini battles. While the duo was able to negotiate the time and then batted with elan, the low strike rate became the eventual differentiator, leaving the Indian bowlers to call the shots. Sushant Mishra's left-arm angle helped India's plans but how good was Kartik Tyagi!

Everything worked well for India and it is now time for the batsmen to do their part! They have been prolific with the bat but the middle-order failed to get going in the Australia game, something that will keep the Pakistan bowling unit interested.

We shall be back with the run chase soon! 

Oh my word. This has been an incredible collapse from Pakistan. Sushant Mishra gets his third and Pakistan fold for a miserable score of 172. No prizes for guessing, it's the short ball that has resulted in the undoing of yet another Pakistani batsman. 

After threatening to go beyond 200 with Mohammad Haris and Rohail Nazir going well, Pakistan have lost their last 5 wickets for just 26 runs. On a wicket that pretty much had no demons, this does look like a score that should be a pretty easy one to chase for the Indians. 

And oh, Aamir Ali, the last one to depart, was the SEVENTH Pakistani batsman to be dismissed for a single-digit score. 

The wickets keep tumbling and yes, it's that man Kartik Tyagi again. And of course, it was the short ball again. A pacy short one cramped into the body, the batsman Tahir Hussian goes for a mindless slog over mid-wicket whilst trying to get out of the way, and all he could instead manage was a top-edge. As it gently popped up in the air, the ball was collected safely by the ever-so-reliant Dhruv Jurel. 

Trust me, I have seen many U-19 World Cup matches this season to say this with conviction that no one is as talented as this freak of a guy - Kartik Tyagi. Look at him, he doesn't look like a guy with power to dish out yorkers at will, but come the stage, he is dominating proceedings with surgical precision. His ball to dismiss Irfan Khan took my breathe away. A dipping yorker dipped in like it would go deep into the earth's core and Irfan was a goner. 

Hey BCCI, are you watching this or are you too busy in previewing the context-less INDIA vs New Zealand ODI series? This is skill of another level and needs to be preserved. If he continues lilke this, I might become an RR fan very soon. Sorry MSD and of course, CSK, your time is up.

At one stage, with the score 96/2 with both Rohail Nazir and Haider Ali going strong, it looked like they were headed for a 250-plus score. But well, they have faltered masively post Haider's dismissal, losing 6 wickets whilst just adding 75 runs. 

Sushant Mishra, back into the attack, picks up from right where he left off earlier in the game, attacking batsmen with short stufff.  AND THE TACTIC PAYS RICH DIVIDENDS AS THE DANGER MAN NAZIR DEPARTS! A huge wicket for India and a massive blow for Pakistan. 

The left-armer's plan was crystal clear from ball one of his new spell, as he kept attacking the batters with short balls towards their body, and eventually, trying to up the ante, Nazir persihed, skying one straight to the fielder at square-leg. A courageous knock from the skipper, nevertheless. He has to depart for 62.

Aaaaaaaaaand that's the end of Ravi Bishnoi's spell. He ends with figures of 2/46 off his 10 overs, and you have to say, he's delivered for his skipper once again. The control this guy has is just incredible. 

You'd think they would be needing at least 70 more, which would get them to the 230 more. Anything below 200 would be all but impossible for them to defend against this formidable Indian attack. It all depends on skipper Nazir, though. 60* now and he would need to go big for them to go beyond the 200-run mark. 

Oh dear. Tyagi gets one horribly wrong and concedes a free-hit, but is bang on target in the follow up delivery, delivering an inch-perfect, toe-crushing yorker. 

Okay, this is unbelievable bowling from Tyagi here. This is death bowling that would make the likes of Malinga, Bumrah and Starc proud. He follows up the no-ball with FOUR DOT BALLS and Nazir literally is clueless out there in the middle. What a talent this guy is. 

And he gives the batsman a send-off as well. Abbas Afridi plays all around a googly, the ball strikes his pad and the umpire rules him out. Pakistan in deep, deep trouble now.  The skipper looks helpeless out there in the non-strikers' end. 

And he almost gets a third, too, as some sharp watch from Dhruv Jurel almost sends new batsman Tahir Hussian packing. 

Jeez, Bishnoi is pulling off all his tricks out here. He is spinning a web around the batsmen. 

WHAT.A.BALL!

THAT IS KARTIK TYAGI FOR YOU!

A DIPPING YORKER AND IRFAN PATHAN'S FURNITURE HAS BEEN DISTRUBED! GIVE ME TIME TO GET OVER THIS!

After getting wide of the crease, Tyagi ensures the ball stays close to the stumps and rattles at the blockhole. THE DELIVERY OF THE DAY FOR ME!

Abbas Afridi is the new batsman in the middle.

FIFTY FOR ROHAIL NAZIR BUT WHAT A WASTE OF AN INNINGS!

He batted his time, but the failure to capitalise on freebies means Pakistan have not kept the runs ticking. Ankolekar, whose lengths at the start of the innings was very promising, has suddenly become like Ravindra Jadeja and managed to keep things afloat.

It is a very uncharateristic innings from Nazir and he is taking too much to break the shackles. In fact, he hasn't yet. Akash is now too happy to bowl to his strength, not taking any chance. It seems fair enough to me now, considering Pakistan are clueless totally. The ball of the over was an LBW scare but it was landing outside leg. 

Yet to see any seriousness in Pakistan's approach. Even though Atharva Ankolekar bowling not-so-threatening balls.

AND THRE YOU GO. DIVYAANSH SAXENA TAKES A ONE-HANDED STUNNER AND THE REPLAYS CONFIRM THAT IT IS OUT! Haris has to go after an enterprising 21 off 15. He was Pakistan's best batsman and with him being dismissed, the writing is on the wall.

At the end of 35 overs, the score is 146 and you can now understand Pakistan's plight. They need to pull a screamer out of somewhere to save them blushes.

Even if Pakistan score at 6 runs an over from now, they won''t be able to reach 250 - which should be the minimum target against India, even on the latter's bad day. The batting firepower is too capable.

Akash Singh doesn't seem thereatening with the ball today and Roahil Nazir, who comes to the tournament playing against India many a time in the past, is too cautious for an ODI game. Would have understood had this been a low-scoring ground but this is a flat ground with a lot of runs on offer.

Time to seep in some water and be fresh for the next 17 overs, which, we can only hope, will witness some big hits from the Pakistanis and some great bowling display by the Indians! After all, there is no great sight in cricket than watching an India-Pakistan game at full flow.

THAT WAS SOME SHOT FROM HARIS! WHAT A SHOT!

Hitting a leg-spinner against the turn over square leg is no mean thing and what a shot that was by Mohammad Haris! Bishnoi looked stunned as Haris got into the position, went down on his knees and sent the ball over square  leg fence for a SIX! The first six of the innings and what a brilliant six was that!

Whether it's junior or senior team getting run out like this is in our blood, legacy continues.#U19CWC pic.twitter.com/rqPS5keyxD

— Haroon (@ThisHaroon) February 4, 2020

Akash Singh is back into the attack and he can't ask for a better time. Qasim and Haider are dismissed and Pakistan are on the back foot now. Rohail is under pressure and Singh should try to use all his pace to see the back of another Pakistani batsman.

Hit when the opposition's back is broken and Akash needs to do that. 

However, a rather subdued over by Akash, who once took a 10-wicket haul in Rajasthan. For what are you cramping the runs, kid? Go for the kill!

THERE YOU GO! RUN-OUT AND IT SEEMS LIKE QASIM AKRAM IS A GONER!

Both batsmen run into one side of the wicket and Atharva Ankolekar finishes the things easily. Replays confirm that Qasim is gone and India will be pleased. But guess what? The bowler Ravi Bishnoi is GUTTED that it was Akram and not Nazir that got out. Hah. 

It was Akram who first defended it in front of cover, and both of them hesitate in getting half way down the pitch. Fate is a cruel lady. Always.

Smart by Garg to continue with Jaiswal. It will surely give him the downtime to delay Tyagi's return, cramping up space but opening up more overs for him in the death if Moahmmed Harris, Pakistan's most successful batsman this tournament, decides to do some heavy-hitting.

But Qasim is inclined to hit more than Nazir - something that will give Pakistan fans hope. They have a fair bit of representation in the stands though. 

Qasim Akram, the namesake of Wasim Akram, batting with a low hand against Mishram, who for all his dominance today, hasn't been that lucky though. But jeez, Nazir is stunning out there. After a long shot at playing stutteringly, Nazir is opening up a bit and Mishra has been one-dimensional against him today. 

For the first time in the tournament, Indian bowlers have been caught off guard and they have to find a way to deal with it.

After 8 consecutive dot balls, the part-timer in Jaiswal finally creeps out, and a half-tracker from the youngster is dispatched to the boundary by Nazir. But he does well, though, bowling three consecutive dots after conceding the boundary. I won't be surprised if this is his last over, though! 

Garg brings back his main man Sushant Mishra back into the attack and the left-armer almost delivers instantly. Nazir misses a wild hoick outside off-stump and there was noise as it went towards the keeper. The Indian players went up in unison, but the umpires shut them down, though!! Testing times for Pakistan, this! 

ALSO, THAT'S THE HUNDRED UP FOR PAKISTAN!  How much more can they add from here? They would be hoping for at least 150 more in the next 23 overs, I presume! 

A WICKET MAIDEN FROM YASHASVI JAISWAL! WOULD YOU BELIEVE IT? Of all people, it had to be a part-timer who had to break the partnership. 

It's official. Jaiswal > Bishnoi > Ankolekar! Even my friend from the gulf agrees! 

YASHASVI JAISWAL OF ALL PEOPLE GETS THE BREAKTHROUGH AND IT'S THE DANGER MAN HAIDER WHO HAS TO GO!!

A rank half-tracker outside off-stump and the batsman goes for an extravagant cut-shot, only for him to find the fielder at point. Ravi Bishnoi takes it safely and finally, finally, India have their man!! 

This was coming, wasn't it? They were getting edgy out in the middle and well, the batsman's eyes lit up as he saw the part-timer deliver a loose delivery. Funny game, ain't it? 

Qasim Akram is the new man in!!

HALFWAY MARK IN THE FIRST INNINGS

By the way, the running has been quite shaky in the last few overs. Don't be surprised if you see a run-out anytime soon. And just as I type this, there's ANOTHER MIX UP. JEEZ, what are they doing out there in the middle?

Aaaaaaand there's the fifty for Haider. And he brings it up in style, dispatching an overpitched Ravi Bishnoi delivery through the off-side. An excellent knock from the new Babar Azam. 

5 runs off the over. A productive over for Pakistan, that. And they seem to be really making a move on 

Pakistan are slowly but steadily making a move on. 22 off the last 5 overs.  

And just when things looked comfortable, BOOM, Ankolekar turns one past the batsman. A loud appeal from the Indians but the umpire turns it down. Haider Ali is one run away from a maiden fifty in this competition. Can he do it?

Oh dear. Bishnoi goes DOT DOT DOT DOT and then concedes a boundary. Once again strays down the pads and Haider effortlessly sweeps it beyond short-fine leg for a boundary. 

AND THAT BRINGS UP THE FIFTY RUN PARTNERSHIP FOR THE DUO! Excellent work from skipper Nazir and Haider Ali!

Alright then, spin from both ends. But no demons on the wicket as of now. All going smoothly for the batting side. India need a spark. Or a moment of stupidity from the Pakistan batsmen. Either of it works, I suppose. 

Pakistan needed to approach the U-19 semi-final with a touch of madness of the kind Fakhar Zaman brought at the Champions Trophy final. Limping to 230 ain't gonna be enough. #U19CWC

— Shashank Kishore (@captainshanky) February 4, 2020

Ravi Bishnoi into the attack and it looks like India are a bit desperate for a breakthrough. To be honest, both these batters have looked untroubled for a good 7-8 overs now and should they get stitch a big partnership, it could spell trouble for India. Especially with big-hitter and their highest run-getter Mohammad Haris waiting in the sheds. 

A FIRST BOUNDARY IN OVER 5 OVERS!  Ankolekar strays down the leg-side and the batsman Haider Ali gets on his knees and sweeps it for a boundary. A much, much needed boundary for the Pakistanis. 

The wicket seems pretty flat now. Akash Singh gave it his all in this over and even exchanged a few words with the batsman, but nah. He is not getting any help. The good news for India, though, is that the Pakistan batsmen are not capitalizing on it. They need to get a move on and badly, the batting team!

This (32*) is now Haider Ali's highest score of the tournament, surpassing his previous best of 28, which came against Afghanistan in the last game. Onwards and upwards, perhaps?

The star of the quarter-final, Atharva Ankolekar is now into the attack! And BOOM, he turns one visciously on his very first ball. The ball almost finds the outside ege of the well-set Haider Ali. Nervous times for Pakistan, this! Tidy first over from the left-armer!

CLOSE! Rohail miscues a pull shot on the fourth ball of the over and almost perishes in identical manner to Hurraira. Thankfully for the batsman, though, the ball falls just short of the mid-on fielder.  Ah, the effect of the drinks break. Lucky escape for the batsman. 

That's the first hour done and Pakistan are 55-2 in 15 overs. I'd say the match is right in the balance. Garg must be wary off his usage of Tyagi, though. 

Rohail's batting is more reminiscent of Rahul Dravid - pardon me the blasphemy - and Kartik Tyagi has learnt it in his fourth over. He kept on bowling full and Nazir tried them to guide to the off-side and seeing that, the pacer brought his length back, somehow succeeding in getting the things in order. They need to pick wickets though.

Rohail opens the face of the bat and cuts Akash through backward point like a pro. With the shot, Pakistan cross the 50-run mark, and the most impressive thing being the duo are trying. Unlike Farhad, Nazir seems technically sound and now batting with 12 off 22 balls.

With Atharva Ankolekar there to carry the burden of middle and death, Garg brings Tyagi to bowl another over. He created a chance on the fourth ball but UMPIRE IS NOT inretrested. India dominating quite handsomely at the moment.

Story of Unmukt Chand over the years.

- U-19 WC winning captain in 2012.
- Followed by poor IPL.
- Dropped from State side (Delhi).
- Moved to Uttarakhand.

Eight years later, after winning the World Cup, he is doing the commentary in the Star Sports in the #U19CWC Semis 2020.

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) February 4, 2020

Akash Singh, touted to be the quickest of all India U-19 bowlers, is into the attack now, replacing Sushant Mishra from one end. He can capitalise on the fact that Pakistan have now scored a total of 19 runs in the last seven overs. Can't say cautious because they have lost a couple of wicket in the process.

The Second powerplay has now been taken and a maximum of four fielders are allowed outside of the 30-yard circle. Now, a chance for Ravi Bishnoi to strangle the runs further and add more pressure on the duo of Haider Ali and Nazir. Ali is the only comfortable batsman in the middle and he will have to take up the initiative of breaking the run drought in the last few overs.

Rohail Nazir is the new batsman out in the middle and will now have to cope with Sushant's angling away outside off deliveries on a regular basis. Can he do that for a long time now? A lot is riding on the most experinced player of the Pakistan side, who dropped a catch off Shubman Gill in the last edition, and let the Indian score a century. No margin for error this time around, though! Stand and deliver is the only option at disposal!

AND BISHNOI TO THE FORE AGAIN!

PAKISTAN TWO DOWN AND IT IS BISHNOI AGAIN WHO GIVES INDIA THE IMPORTANT BREAKTHOUGH!

Farhad Munir, after struggling big-time in the middle, perishes to  Bishnoi as Atharva Ankolekar takes an easy offering. His drift was too much for Munir who, after negotiating for a while, fell to the trap of Bishnoi's variations. Each time a leg-spinner takes the ball away from a left-handed spinner, it is always two things - perform or perish. Munir, sadly, was not equipped to execute the former and hence lost his wicket. Falls for a 16-ball duck.