COLOMBO, Feb 15: Cheteshwar Pujara smashed a robust century and Abu Nechim Ahmed grabbed four wickets as India whipped England by 234 runs in the first semifinal of the under-19 World Cup cricket tournament on Wednesday.

The in-form opener hit an unbeaten 129 as India posted a challenging 292-4 off their allotted 50 overs after electing to bat in the day-night game.

England were bundled out for 58 off just 20.1 overs, with fast bowler Ahmed taking four wickets in his opening three overs to virtually reduce the match to a no-contest.

Ahmed, who finished with 4-14 off six overs, was brilliantly supported by paceman Vijaykumar Yomahesh (2-14) and super-sub Bipinbhai Parmar who claimed two wickets without conceding a run.

Tailender Graeme White (17) was the only England batsman to reach double-figures in a dismal performance.

India will now meet the winners of Friday’s semifinal between Australia and Pakistan. The final will be played on Sunday.

Man-of-the-Match Pujara, who had made two half-centuries in the last four matches, was dropped at first slip when on one but then went on to bat confidently as he hit one six and 10 fours in his 146-ball knock.

He put India on course for a big total with two useful partnerships, adding 72 for the opening wicket with Gaurav Dhiman (48) and 112 for the second with Rohit Sharma (59).

Dhiman struck one six and eight fours in his 44-ball knock while Sharma hit one six and four boundaries in his third half-century of the tournament.

Pujara then put on 54 for the fourth wicket with Mayank Tehlan (26) as India scored 103 in the last 13 overs.

England super-sub Nicholas James took two wickets, while fellow-spinner White was the most economical as he conceded 33 off 10 overs.

Scoreboard

INDIA:

G. Dhiman c Hamilton-Brown b White 48

C.A. Pujara not out 129

R. Sharma run out 59

Ravikant Shukla c Nelson b James 3

M. Tehlan b James 26

R.S. Jadeja not out 14

EXTRAS (B-1, LB-W-10, NB-2) 13

TOTAL (for four wkts, 50 overs) 292

FALL OF WKTS: 1-72, 2-184, 3-189, 4-243.

DID NOT BAT: D. Das, Piyush Chawla, P. Shah, V. Yomahesh, A.N. Ahmed.

BOWLING: Nelson 5-1-14-0 (3w); Waters 5-1-55-0 (1w); White 10-0-33-1; James 10-0-60-2; Ali 10-0-51-0 (1w); Mullaney 3-0-35-0 (1nb); Hamilton-Brown 7-0-43-0 (1w).

ENGLAND:

V. Chopra b Ahmed 2

M.D. Stoneman b Ahmed 2

M.A. Nelson c Das b Yomahesh 6

M.M. Ali c Shukla b Ahmed 4

R.J. Hamilton-Brown c Shah b Ahmed 1

B.J. Wright c Das b Yomahesh 2

S.J. Mullaney c Tehlan b Dhiman 7

N.A. James c Shukla b Chawla 5

G.J. White st Shah b Bipinbhai 17

J.A. Simpson lb b Bipinbhai 1

H.T. Waters not out 0

EXTRAS (LB-2, W-2, NB-7) 11

TOTAL (all out, 20.1 overs) 58

FALL OF WKTS: 1-3, 2-12, 3-12, 4-13, 5-17, 6-22, 7-35, 8-38, 9-49.

BOWLING: Yomahesh 6-0-14-2 (6nb); Ahmed 6-1-14-4 (1w); Dhiman 3-0-11-1 (1w); Piyush Chawla 4-1-17-1; Bipinbhai 1.1-1-0-2.

UMPIRES: S.J. Davis (Australia) and B. Doctrove (West Indies).

TV UMPIRE: Nadeem Ghauri (Pakistan).

MAN OF THE MATCH: Cheteshwar Pujara.

SECOND SEMIFINAL: Australia v Pakistan on Friday.—Agencies