Was playing the ball on its merit Says Rishabh Pant

Kolkata, Nov 27- Indian under-19 opener Rishabh Pant who blasted his way to a match-winning knock of 118 runs against Afghanistan in a tri-series game here on Friday said he was not trying to do anything special and played the ball on its merit.

Pant's innings helped his side reach 266/7 in 50 overs and then the Indians were able to bowl out the opposition for 162 in just 28 overs, thus grabbing a 104-run victory.

"Was not trying to do anything special, was playing the bowl on its merit. There was no game plan," Pant told reporters here.

Pant was at his aggressive best here on Friday clobbering bowlers to the fence, hitting four sixes and 14 boundaries in his 98-ball innings.

"They were bowling loose balls which helped me. Missing the hundred in the last game was on my mind," he said.

Pant added the one thing that the team's coach and former India captain Rahul Dravid had taught him was "discipline".

For the hosts, leg spinner Zeeshan Ansari shone with the leather as he picked up figures of 5-37.

At the post match media conference Ansari said:" I was just concentrating on bowling in good areas. The wicket was very good to bowl on, it was offering a lot of purchase."

The leg spinner was also excited about the next Under-19 World Cup which will be held in Bangladesh in 2016.

"I am very excited for Bangladesh. The pitches there would assist the spinners, can't wait to have bowl there," said Ansari.

Ansari, who hails from Lucknow, also said he was under no pressure from his family to take up tailoring -- his father's business-- and added that he is trying to improve his batting.

Agency

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