#ICCU19WorldCup: SA left to rue missed opportunity as India qualifies for final

India weathered an early storm and late collapse as captain Uday Saharan and Sachin Dhas put on 172 for the fourth wicket to help their team beat hosts South Africa by two wickets in the first semi-final of the ICC U19 Men’s World Cup at Willowmoore Park on February 6.

The stadium was buzzing as the SA supporters, led by the brass band, school children on the main pavilion and a sea of green and gold in the grass embankment, flew the national flags sky-high and tried to make it uncomfortable for the Indian players.

Fans were, however, left scratching their heads as India pulled off a stunning comeback.

Chasing 245, Uday put on a captain’s knock of 81 off 123 while Dhas fell four balls short of what would have been an extraordinary century, ending on 96 off 95 as they helped their country qualify for its ninth final in this competition.

India’s innings began on the backfoot when the top order failed to deal with SA’s star bowlers Kwena Maphaka and Tristan Luus’ searing pace and swing, losing four wickets within the first 12 overs, including three in the first power-play.

Advantage SA

Maphaka started the rout with the wicket of opener Adarsh Singh for a golden duck with the first ball of the innings. The bowler dropped it short. Singh tried to evade but the bat was too close to his chest and he nicked the ball to Lhuan-dre Pretorius behind.

India’s star batsman Musheer Khan followed Singh to the shed in the fourth over off Luus. The bowler pitched the ball short, hitting the face of the bat and then flew to SA captain Juan James, who took a great catch at second slip.

Arshin Kulkarni and Saharan tried to build but the former fell to Luus in the 10th over. Luus bowled another short ball which Kulkarni tried to drive but instead it hit the face of the bat and fled to James who smothered it comfortably at second slip, as India posted 26-3 in the first power-play.

Luus got this fourth in the 12th over with the dismissal of Priyanshu Moliya. He landed a full toss. The ball swung to outside off and the batsman nicked it away to the keeper as the Indians found themselves in trouble.

India takes control

After Maphaka and Luus were rested, there was no penetration from the rest of the SA attack as Uday and Dhas began to build.

They took advantage of the bad balls and SA’s ill-discipline in the middle overs, scoring 16 boundaries and one maximum for a solid partnership that swung the contest in their favour, which prompted some members of the SA coaching staff to patrol the boundary, dishing out advice to the players.

With the game slipping away, skipper James recalled Maphaka to the attack and the seamer made an immediate impact. He unleashed a good delivery outside off to Dhas and the batter hit it up but it lacked the height and speed as David Teeger took a simple catch at extra cover.

Maphaka got his third of the day with the wicket of Aravelly Avanish, who attempted to pull the bowler’s short ball but instead got a top edge which was taken by a diving Riley Norton at fine leg in the 47th over.

Murugan Abhishek and Saharan were run out in the last three overs but Raj Limbani sealed India’s win with a four over the infield to send his country to the final.

Maphaka and Luus both got three wickets each.

SA positive start dwindles

Earlier, Pretorius and Richard Seletswane put on a 72-run third-wicket partnership after India struck early through Limbani, dismissing the dangerous Steve Stolk for 14 off 17 and Teeger for a second-ball duck as SA posted 52/2 inside the power-play.

With Seletswane building his innings at a snail’s pace, Pretorius played the aggressor, posting his 50 off 59 in the 19th over.

After the left-hander brought up SA’s 100 with a six through the point boundary in the 26th over, he was caught at mid-wicket by Abhishek off Khan, for a brilliant 76 off 101 in the 31st over.

Seletswane showed his sign of aggression with a pair of sixes later in the innings – one with a slog sweep over deep mid-wicket and another into the grass bunkers before departing for 64 off 100 off Naman Tiwari.

There were cameos by Oliver Whitehead (22 off 34), James (24 off 19) and an unbeaten 23 off 12 from Luus as SA posted 244/7 but it wasn’t enough as India reached their target with seven balls to spare.

Limbani was the pick of the Indian bowlers with three scalps.

India will face the winner of the second semi, between Australia and Pakistan, on February 11 at the same venue.

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