India on Tuesday battled past the defending champions South Africa and stormed into the final of the ICC Under-19 World Cup.
The feat was fuelled by splendid fifties by Sachin Dhas and captain Uday Saharan, in which Dhas scored 96 of 95 balls and Saharan put 81* of 124 balls.
From debris yard to success
Notably, this is the fifth consecutive time, India has reached the finals of the U19 World Cup. The beginning was not easy as India lost four wickets for just 32 runs in the 12th over.
The South African fast bowler Kwena Maphaka jolted India with 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.
Fellow bowler Tristan Luus soon joined him 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 Indian duo Dhas and Saharan brought a silver lining, who dished out innings of vastly contrasting nature and tempo. Dhas played aggressively whereas Saharan maintained the cool.
India’s dynamic duo
Dhas reached his fifty in 47 balls, fittingly, with a pull off pacer Riley Norton and Saharan reached his half-century in 88 balls with a cover drive off off-spinner Juan James.
Notably, Saharan became the highest run-getter in this World Cup with 389 runs. A second hundred in this event was there for his taking, but Maphaka, the tournament’s highest wicket-taker so far, deceived him with a slower ball that Dhas just managed to scoop to David Teeger at covers.
Next, 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.