On February 6, India defeated South Africa by two wickets to advance to their fifth consecutive U19 World Cup final. The players who stole the show were captain Uday Saharan and Sachin Dhas.
The hosts were eliminated from the competition, but Uday and Sachin led the team home with poise well beyond their years. The top order collapsed.
South Africa were left rue the 26 extras they conceded as India clinched the thriller with 7 balls to spare. India, unbeaten in the tournament, was pushed to the limit by the South African bowling but Uday and Sachin would script the memorable win.
In the semi-finals, South Africa scored more than 200 runs to become the first team to do so against a strong Indian side. The hosts amassed a respectable total of 244 runs, unfazed by India’s previously unwavering bowling attack that had regularly kept teams below the 200-run mark.
After winning the toss, the Indian team, captained by captain Uday Saharan, strategically chose to field first, a move that would test their bowling prowess and be a first for them in this tournament. South Africa’s tenacity at the crease, however, paid off, and India now faces a difficult goal.
However, India would demonstrate their bowling powers, with some economical spells from their side. Musheer Khan contributed with the ball, taking 2 wickets, while Raj Limbani continued his impressive streak with 3 dismissals. The spin duo of Saumy Pandey and Musheer proved economical, conceding just 81 runs over 20 overs and claiming 3 wickets between them.
Limbani’s figures stood out as he leaked 60 runs across 9 overs but managed to take 3 wickets. Naman Tiwari also chipped in with a wicket, though he gave away 52 runs in his 8-over spell.
For South Africa, Lhuan-dre Pretorius shone with the bat, hitting a solid 76 before falling to Musheer’s bowling. Richard Seletswane’s patient 64 off 100 balls anchored the innings, while cameos from captain Juan James and Tristan Luus provided the late acceleration needed to reach their final score.
India’s pursuit of victory faced early turbulence as they stumbled to 8 for 2 within the initial four overs. The departure of opener Adarsh Singh and the tournament’s top scorer Musheer Khan, who had previously tallied an impressive 334 runs including two centuries, was a significant setback. Musheer’s dismissal for a mere 4 runs was particularly disheartening given his outstanding form.
Kwena Maphaka, the left-arm pacer whose prowess was anticipated, lived up to expectations by claiming Adarsh’s wicket without scoring. Tristan Luus, a right-arm fast bowler, then delivered a crucial blow with a well-directed bouncer that caught Musheer off guard, leading to his catch in the slips.
Luus would then get the wicket of Arshin Kulkarni to leave India in all sorts of trouble at 25 for 3 in 9.2 overs. Priyanshu Moliya’s stay at the crease was also short-lived as he tried to break the shackles with an expansive drive to get caught at slips.
The hosts looked clearly on top and destined to stop India’s march to the final, but captain Saharan and Dhas had other plans.
The duo put together a partnership with incredible composure, sometimes a rarity even in senior-level cricket. While Dhas, who had scored an incredible hundred in the final Super 6 game against Nepal, continued to be flamboyant with his shots, especially effective with the pull.
The Indian skipper, on the other hand, decided to be the achor in the partnership and after absorbing pressure, started to milk the runs in the middle order, leaving the Proteas searching for answers.
The duo’s partnership went past the 100-run mark without any major challenges while Saharan scored his third fifty to go past Musheer as the highest run-getter in the tournament. It seemed like the duo were looking to break their record from the previous game against Nepal, where they put on 215 runs.
However, Maphaka would come back to provide a timely breakthrough in the form of Dhas with a well disguised slower ball. The Indian batter got out for 96, four short of a well-deserved century. The partnership came to an end at 171 off just 187 deliveries.
ndia would see off Luus and another over from Maphaka as the equation would come down to 29 off 30 deliveries as the pressure started to build and we were in for a scintillating finish. Aravelly Avanish would play an incredible straight drive off Riley Norton to make the equation 21 off 24 balls.
The game would then have another twist in the story as Maphaka struck with the last ball off his spell as Aravelly returned to the pavilion with 19 needed off the last three overs. Poor running from Murugan Abhishek meant India losing another wicket with Uday running out of partners.
The pressure was at its peak when Limbani showed no issues in depositing Norton over the boundary line. He ran a quick double and the equation was down to nine off 12 deliveries.
Uday would then have India back in the driver’s seat with a brilliant cover drive. The scores were level when some comical running meant that Uday had to return with two wickets remaining. However, Limbani got the winning runs to get his team home in the end.
India will now face the winner of the second semi-final between Pakistan and Australia in the final on February 11.
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