NEW DELHI: Young all-rounder Kanishk Chouhan starred as India U-19 defeated arch-rivals Pakistan by 58 runs in a Super Six clash to secure a place in the semifinals of the ICC U-19 World Cup on Sunday.

India will face Afghanistan in the semifinals, while England and Australia meet in the other last-four showdown.

It was Kanishk’s quickfire 29-ball 35, along with a 50-run partnership for the eighth wicket with Khilan Patel (21 not out off 15 balls), that helped India post a competitive 252 in 49.5 overs.

Vedant Trivedi lays the foundation

Earlier, Vedant Trivedi played a patient 68 off 98 balls, anchoring the innings and setting up a platform for the late surge. Vaibhav Suryavanshi (30 off 22 balls) got India off to a brisk start but was dismissed after attempting a second pull shot in as many deliveries despite a reprieve off left-arm seamer Mohammad Sayyam (2/69).

Skipper Ayush Mhatre (0) continued his poor run in Youth ODIs with a first-ball duck, while Aaron George was bowled by Abdul Subhan (3/33), who used his height and full-length deliveries to create awkward bounce. From 47 without loss, India slipped to 47 for 3 before left-hander Vihaan Malhotra (21) joined Vedant to build a 62-run stand.

All-round performance sinks Pakistan

Pakistan needed 253 in 33.3 overs to qualify for the semis on net run rate, but their batters faltered, eventually being bowled out for 194 in 46.2 overs. Kanishk Chouhan continued his brilliance with the ball, finishing with figures of 1/30 in 10 overs, including 40 dot balls.

Left-arm spinner Khilan Patel (3/35 in 9.2 overs) and captain Ayush Mhatre (3/21 in 8 overs) choked runs in the middle overs. Even Asia Cup hero Sameer Minhas fell cheaply to Henil Patel’s off-cutter as the rest of the lineup adopted a defensive approach.

"There was a good start but in the middle, the ball was spinning. The way KC (Kanishk’s nickname) batted was brilliant. Vedant was batting well in the nets, so I was confident in him. Boys were contributing. Pakistan batters batted well in the first 25 (overs), after that the spinners bowled really well. We are looking match by match. Just want to win the semi-finals," skipper Mhatre said after the game.

Kanishk and Khilan’s late assault, adding 50 runs in just 5.1 overs, ensured India reached a safe total after Vedant’s steady innings.

(With PTI Inputs)