BENONI: India’s Under-19 cricket team mounted a remarkable comeback to defeat hosts South Africa in semifinal and secure a spot in the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup final. Facing a challenging target of 245 set by South Africa, India overcame a shaky start to chase down the total with three wickets in hand and seven balls to spare in a nail-biting encounter held in Benoni.
Electing to bat first, South Africa posted a competitive total of 244/7, propelled by solid contributions from Lhuan-dre Pretorius and Richard Seletswane, who notched up crucial half-centuries. Despite early setbacks, South Africa staged a recovery, anchored by partnerships that kept the scoreboard ticking.
India Batting Against South Africa
In response, India found themselves in dire straits at 32/4, facing a daunting task. However, a partnership between skipper Uday Saharan and Sachin Das turned the tide in India’s favor. The duo displayed determination, stitching together a crucial fifth-wicket stand of 171 runs to steer India back into the game.
Das played a key role with the bat, falling short of a century with a knock of 96, while Saharan provided crucial support with a patient innings of 81 runs. Their partnership proved to be the turning point of the match, guiding India towards victory.
Despite a late flurry of wickets, India held their nerve to secure a hard-fought win, with Saharan leading from the front till the penultimate over. South African bowlers Kwena Maphaka and Tristan Luus put up a spirited effort, claiming three wickets each, but were unable to prevent India’s resurgence.
With this victory, India has booked their place in the U19 World Cup final, where they will face either Pakistan or Australia on Sunday in a highly anticipated showdown.
