Current Match Report – S Africa U19 vs India U19 1st Semi-Last 2023/24
India Below-19s 248 for 8 (Dhas 96, Saharan 81, Maphaka 3-32, Luus 3-37) beat South Africa Below-19s 244 for 7 (Pretorius 76, Seletswane 64, Limbani 3-60, Musheer 2-43) by two wickets
India’s title defence on the Below-19 World Cup met its sternest problem from hosts South Africa in a pulsating semifinal conflict in Benoni. Then Uday Saharan, the captain, and Sachin Dhas placed on a game-changing 171-run stand that set the tone for a come-from-behind victory. India are actually into their fifth straight ultimate, the place they await the winner of Thursday’s semi-final between Pakistan and Australia.For the primary time within the match, India determined to chase. And at 32 for 4 of their chase of 245, they have been on the rack. South Africa’s tempo assault introduced fireplace, hostility and loads of thrills to a fascinating opening burst the place each ball was an occasion of its personal. It wanted Dhas’s ice-cool temperament and Saharan’s metal to bail India out with a file fifth-wicket stand at males’s Below-19 World Cups.But, regardless of the file partnership, India had late jitters when Dhas, Aravelly Avanish and Murugan Abhishek fell in fast succession. India wanted 18 off 16 with three wickets in hand. Raj Limbani, the swing bowler who had landed the early punches with three huge strikes, then flicked his first ball for six over deep midwicket to take India inside touching distance.Saharan almost noticed India house however was run out with India needing one run. It took him an eternity to stroll off, distraught at not with the ability to end the job, however he wasn’t to be denied as Limbani belted a boundary off Nquobani Mokoena to set off joyous scenes within the Indian camp. South Africa have been crestfallen, questioning how they let India escape after Kwena Maphaka and Tristan Luus had lower by way of their high order in near-unplayable opening spells.
Maphaka eliminated Adarsh Singh off the primary ball of India’s chase with a lifter that he gloved to the wicketkeeper. On the different finish, Luus peppered Musheer Khan with a sequence of inswingers earlier than having him fend a brief ball into the slips. Musheer’s wicket was huge contemplating he had been the glue holding India’s batting collectively all match.
Arshin Kulkarni, identified for his large hitting and pulsating begins, shelved all that aggression in an effort to dig in, till he threw his arms at an away-going supply to be caught within the slips, whereas Priyanshu Moliya’s unfastened drive was pouched by keeper Lhuan-dre Pretorius. By now, the bands have been enjoying and the house followers roared.
Dhas and Saharan ducked and weaved their method away from the quick balls to start with, seemingly unperturbed by being made to look ugly by South Africa’s tempo assault. After which as they slowly ate into the daunting goal, they discovered their toes and timing. Saharan was industrious and Dhas a bit extra enterprising as he stored choosing boundaries off each unfastened providing.
Dhas had lower his enamel as a finisher throughout the run-up to the World Cup. Till Tuesday, he’d solely as soon as confronted over 20 deliveries in an innings within the match. However this was his alternative to ship, and he embraced the problem. Final week towards Nepal, Dhas and Saharan had bailed India out of an analogous place after they’d misplaced three early wickets. Right here the stakes have been greater, and the standard of bowling a number of notches greater, even perhaps the match’s greatest, which is why their fightback was all of the extra commendable.Earlier than India’s batters led the best way, their plethora of spin choices strangled South Africa after Limbani had made the ball speak along with his large inswing. From 46 for two, Pretorius and Richard Seletswane went about repairing the innings with a 72-run third-wicket stand, however consumed 22.1 overs within the course of to place immense strain on the decrease center order for momentum.
Pretorius fell looking for large runs in an effort to make up for Seletswane’s slowdown – he was on 25 not out off 75 balls at one level. This strain slowly crept up on South Africa’s decrease order, serving to the spin duo of Musheer and Saumy Pandey dictate phrases. In all, spin accounted for figures of 31-2-120-3.
Juan James, the captain, and Luus struck some large blows in the direction of the tip to assist South Africa nudge in the direction of 250, the final 5 overs producing 49 runs. This gave South Africa greater than a preventing probability, which their quick bowlers constructed on considerably, earlier than they bumped into Saharan and Dhas.
