India reached their fifth consecutive Under-19 World Cup final after beating South Africa by two wickets in a thrilling encounter at Willowmoore Park, Benoni. After losing four wickets for 32 runs skipper Uday Saharan and Sachin Dhas shared a record-breaking 171-run partnership for the fifth wicket to get India back in the game. In the slog overs, Saharan got help from Raj Limbani as India chased down the target of 245 with seven balls to spare.
Saharan won the toss and opted to field first even though India's all five wins in the tournament came while batting first. South Africa's openers were cautious in the first few overs. In the fifth over, Steve Stolk hit Limbani for a six. But the pacer had the last laugh as Stolk got out in the same over. He scored 14 runs from 17 balls. Lhuan-dre Pretorius attacked Naman Niwari and hit him for a six in the eighth over. Limbani struck again to dismiss David Teeger for a two-ball duck. Pretorius continued to attack and welcomed spinner Murugan Abhishek with a six. In the 19th over, Pretorius reached his half-century from 59 balls.
Musheer Khan and Priyanshu Moliya created pressure with a maiden over each. A few overs later, Pretorius succumbed to the pressure. Abhishek took an exceptional reflex catch at short midwicket. The opener scored 76 runs from 102 balls including six fours and three sixes. Richard Seletswane was batting at a strike rate just above 30. In the 37th over, he hit Musheer for a maximum. He went after Moliya as well hitting him for a maximum. In his last over, the left-arm spinner dismissed Oliver Whitehead who scored 22 runs from 34 balls.
In the 42nd over, Seletswane reached his half-century from 90 balls. In the same over, his catch was dropped. Saumy Pandey had his first breakthrough in the 41st over. He dismissed Dewan Marais who attempted a slog-sweep. Juan James pushed the scoring rate in the slog overs. He hit Pandey for a six. Seleteswane joined in as well with two consecutive fours off Limbani. In the 47th over, Tiwari ended Seleteswane's stay at the crease. He scored 64 runs from 100 balls featuring six fours and a couple of sixes. James lost his wicket to Limbani after a 19-ball 24 cameo. In the final two overs, Tristan Luus' 12-ball 23 cameo took South Africa to 244/7.
India's run chase got off to the worst possible start. Leading wicket-taker of the tournament, Kwena Maphaka got the wicket of Adarsh Singh with a length ball which took off to surprise the opener. In the fourth over, Luus got rid of in-form Musheer who scored four runs from 12 balls. Arshin Kulkarni hit Maphaka for a six in the seventh over. Luus in his fifth over dismissed Kulkarni as he flashed his blade on a ball away from his body. He scored 12 runs from 30 balls. Luus bowled one more over in his opening spell and dismissed Moliya for a single-digit score. India were reduced to 32/4 in the 12th over.
Dhas and Saharan did not take unnecessary risks and tried to steady the ship. Saharan was more defensive of the two as Dhas did not shy away from taking on the odd ball. In the 19th over, Dhas released some pressure with three fours. At the halfway stage, India were 104/4. Dhas reached his half-century from 47 balls with a boundary. While Dhas continued to accelerate, Saharan reached his half-century from 88 balls in the 36th over. As India sensed victory, Dhas got more attacking. India completed 200 runs in the 41st over. Maphaka was brought back into the attack and he broke the partnership straightaway. Dhas could not pick the slower one from the left-arm pacer and handed an easy catch to Teeger. He departed after scoring 96 runs from 95 balls including 11 fours and a six.
Maphaka and Luus kept the pressure on the new batter Aravelly Avanish and Saharan. After three boundary-less overs, Avanish hit Riley Norton for a four down the ground. Maphaka in his last over got the wicket of Avanish with a short ball. In the next over, Abhishek got run out for a golden duck due to lazy running. In the penultimate over, Saharan hit a boundary to make the equation easier. India needed one run from the last nine balls. Saharan went for a single but got run out. He scored 81 runs from 124 balls. But Limbani prevented an anti-climax and finished the run chase with a boundary.
This is the ninth time India have qualified for the final of the Under-19 World Cup. India will face the winner of the second semi-final between Australia and Pakistan on February 11 at the same venue.
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