BENONI (Agencies): Skipper Uday Saharan and Sachin Das recovered India with gritty half-centuries to edge hosts South Africa by three wickets to reach the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup final.
Put into bat first, South Africa registered a decent total of 244/7 on the board, courtesy of brilliant half-centuries by Lhuan-dre Pretorius and Richard Seletswane.
The home side had a shaky start to their innings as they lost Steve Stolk (14) and David Teeger (0) inside the batting powerplay with just 46 runs on the board.
But Seletswane joined Pretorius in the middle and anchored the innings with a gutsy third-wicket partnership. The crucial stand yielded 72 runs before the opening batter finally walked back in the 31st over.
Pretorius remained the top-scorer for South Africa with 76 off 102 deliveries, laced up with six boundaries and three sixes.
Meanwhile, Seletswane stood his ground firm and put together notable partnerships with Oliver Whitehead (22) and skipper Juan James (24) before finally perishing in the 47th over. He smashed four boundaries and two sixes on his way to a 100-ball 64.
Tristan Luus then bolstered South Africa’s total at the backend with a brisk 23-run cameo which came off just 12 deliveries.
Chasing 245 to make their way into the U19 World Cup final, India accumulated 248 for the loss of eight wickets and seven balls to spare. The former champions had a disastrous start to the pursuit as they were in all sorts of trouble with the scoreboard reading 32/4 in 11.2 overs.
But an astounding fifth-wicket partnership between skipper Uday Saharan and Sachin Dhas turned the game on its head. The duo batted sensibly amid their reviving stand which spanned for more than 30 overs to add 171 runs to the total.
Dhas, who was the core aggressor of the match-defining stand, had an agonizing end to his brave knock as he fell just four shy of his well-deserved century. He remained the top-scorer for India with 96 off 95 deliveries, hitting 11 boundaries and a six.
Meanwhile, skipper Saharan carried his bat till the penultimate over and walked back after leaving his side just one run within the victory. He scored 81 off 124 deliveries with the help of six boundaries.
For South Africa, Kwena Maphaka and Tristan Luus bagged three wickets each.
It is worth mentioning here that India will now take on either Pakistan or Australia in the U19 World Cup final on Sunday.
