Benoni, Feb 6:
Fuelled by splendid fifties by Sachin Dhas and captain Uday Saharan, defending champions India battled past South Africa by two wickets to storm into the final, their fifth consecutive, of the ICC Under-19 World Cup in Benoni on Tuesday.
Dhas (96, 95 balls, 11×4, 1×6) and Saharan (81, 124, 6×4), who were India’s guiding forces in the last match against Nepal with a hundred each, garnered 171 runs for the fifth wicket as India hunted down the target of 245 with just seven balls to spare.
India will face either Australia or Pakistan in the summit clash to be played at this venue on Sunday, searching for their sixth trophy in the marquee event.
But the beginning of India’s chase resembled a debris yard, losing four wickets for just 32 runs in the 12th over.
The South African new-ball bowler Kwena Maphaka jolted India in the first ball of their innings, dismissing Adarsh Singh with a nasty climbing delivery that the batter had no choice other than snicking to wicket-keeper Lhuan-dre Pretorious.
His partner Tristan Luus soon joined the fun with the wickets of Musheer Khan, Arshin Kulkarni and Priyanshu Moliya as all three India batters were indecisive outside the off-stump while hanging their bats to dry.
But the Indians found their saviours in Dhas and Saharan, who dished out innings of vastly contrasting nature and tempo.
Earlier, South Africa posted 244 for 7 riding on the 81 runs in the last 10 overs with the help of Tristan Luus who scored a cameo to provide the final push.
South Africa were finding it difficult to up the ante in the middle overs with Richard Seletswane getting stuck as the Indian spinners put a tight lease on the batsman.
Seletswane could gather only 25 off 75 balls after Pretorius gave a good start, but he turned the heat on India to score 64.
For India, the spinners stood out as Saumy Pandey and Musheer Khan combined to bowl 20 overs for just 81 runs while picking up three wickets.
Earlier, India skipper Uday Saharan won the toss and elected to bowl first. He wanted to utilize the early movement on offer. This was the first time India elected to bowl after winning the toss in the tournament.
Raj Limbani struck early when he accounted for the dangerous Steve Stolk. The trigger-happy batsman hit two fours and a six during his brief stay but went after a wide one and nicked one behind the stumps.
South Africa’s other opener, Lhuan-dre Pretorius opened arms after this loss and hit a flurry of boundaries.
Despite losing David Teeger (0) to a brilliant inswinger from Limbani, the Proteas were situated at a healthy 55/2 at the end of the first Powerplay.
India spinners were able to bring down the scoring rate thereafter. Merely 63 runs came between overs 11-30.
The pressure finally got to Pretorius, who tried to hoick Musheer Khan over mid-wicket but was held at short mid-wicket.
Abhishek Murugan took an exceptional catch, holding on to a ball that was racing past him with both hands.
Seletswane and Oliver Whitehead tried to pick the scoring rate with a range of attacking strokes, but Saharan stuck to his spinners. This yielded Whitehead’s wicket at the end of the 40th over.
Seletswane was joined by skipper Juan James in the 43rd over. The South Africa innings picked pace under their guidance, and the team became the first side to cross 200 against India in the tournament.
