Rishab Pant smashed a record fastest half century as Nepal went down to a mighty Indian side by seven wickets in their final Group ‘D’ match of the ICC U-19 World Cup in Mirpur, Bangladesh on Monday.

The result meant Nepal qualified for the last eight as group runners-up and will play either Bangladesh or Namibia from Group ‘A’. Namibia lead the pool ahead of their match against Bangladesh on Tuesday.

Nepal’s top order once again failed to give a desired start before the team managed to reach 169-8 in a match reduced to 48 overs due to heavy fog at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium. Pant then flayed the Nepali bowlers smashing a 24-ball 78 as India cantered to victory in just 18.1 overs. Nepal skipper Raju Rijal said his team had been taught a lesson on what to expect when playing against superior sides.

“The competition in the quarter-finals will obviously be very tough and today’s match was a good experience for us,” said Rijal. “We need to work harder and try to do our best in the remaining games.”

Pant didn’t spare any Nepali bowler, hammering Kushal Bhurtel for nine runs in the first over. He completed his half century in just 18 balls, a record in U-19 international cricket. Pant forged a solid 124-run partnership in nine overs with skipper Ishan Kishan before he was bowled by Prem Tamang.

Pant’s whirlwind knock included nine fours and five sixes. Kishan hit a 40-ball 52 clubbing seven fours and three sixes. He fell to leg spinner Sandeep Lamichhane with his side just 28 runs away from victory. Tamang also removed Ricky Bhui to return with figures of 2-41 from six overs. Sarafaraz Khan (21) and Arman Jaffer (12) completed the formalities for the Indians.

Earlier, Nepal’s top order woes continued as they lost Sunil Dhamala (0) in the first over to Avesh Khan. Khan also removed Yogendra Karki (7) and the dismissal of Raju Rijal (six) off Mayank Dagar left them tottering at 48-3.

Another opener Sandeep Sunar, who was dropped at slips by Sarfaraz Khan in the first fall of the day, was out next for 37. Aarif Sheikh and Rajbir Singh took the team close to triple figures with a 28-run stand before the former fell prey to spinner Washington Sundar for 26. Sheikh hit four boundaries in 44 balls.

Nepal then lost Dipendra Airee (1) and Kushal Bhurtel (six) in quick succession to be  109-7 as even a score close to 150 looked a far cry. Singh and Tamang offered resistance with a 37-run stand for the eighth wicket.

Singh was the second leading scorer for Nepal, making 35 off 68 with one boundary. Tamang, who hit the only six for Nepal, pushed the team towards a respectable total making an unbeaten 29 off 40. His innings also included two boundaries.  Khan took 3-34 from eight overs, while Dagar (2-32) and Sundar (2-20) shared four wickets between them.