India vs South Africa U-19 World Cup | Sachin and Saharan deliver in chase as India storms into final

India will face either Australia or Pakistan in the summit clash to be played at this venue on Sunday.

Defending champion India, powered by splendid knocks from skipper Uday Saharan and Sachin Dhas, battled past South Africa by two wickets in an exciting contest and stormed into the final for the fifth consecutive time in the ICC Under-19 World Cup here on Tuesday.

Dhas (96, 95b, 11x4, 1x6) and Saharan (81, 124b, 6x4), the guiding force in the previous match against Nepal with a hundred each, garnered 171 runs for the fifth wicket as India hunted down the target of 245 with just 7 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.