(Cricket News) In a thrilling semifinal match in Benoni, hosts South Africa presented India with its toughest test yet for their Under-19 World Cup title defense. However, captain Uday Saharan and captain Sachin Dhas produced a game-changing 171-run stand that set the tone for a thrilling comeback victory. India advances to their fifth consecutive final, where they will face the victor of Thursday’s semi-final between Pakistan and Australia.

India chose to chase for the first time in the tournament, and when they found themselves 32 for 4 in their chase of 245 runs, they were in serious trouble. The pace attack of South Africa created a thrilling opening burst where every ball was an event in and of itself, and it took the steel of Saharan and the ice-cold composure of Dhas to save India with a record fifth-wicket stand at the men’s Under-19 World Cup.

India needed 18 off 16 with three wickets in hand, but despite the historic partnership, they were rattled when Dhas, Aravelly Avanish, and Murugan Abhishek fell in quick succession. The swing bowler Raj Limbani, who had delivered three massive blows in the opening over, then flicked his first ball for six over deep midwicket to bring India within touching distance.

After Kwena Maphaka and Tristan Luus had put South Africa’s top order through nearly unplayable opening spells, Saharan almost saw India home but was run out with India needing one run.

It took him ages to walk off, distraught at not being able to finish the job, but he was not to be denied as Limbani belted a boundary off Nquobani Mokoena to set off joyous scenes in the Indian camp.

At the other end, Arshin Kulkarni, known for his big hitting and pulsating starts, shelved all that aggression in an attempt to dig in, but he threw his hands at an away-going delivery to be caught in the slips, while Priyanshu Moliya’s loose drive was pouched by keeper Lhuan-dre Pretorius. Maphaka removed Adarsh Singh off the first ball of India’s chase with a lifter that he gloved to the wicketkeeper. By now, the bands were playing and the home fans were roaring.

Saharan was a little more enterprising than Dhas as he kept picking boundaries off loose offerings, but both ducked and weaved their way away from the short balls at first, seemingly undisturbed by being made to look ugly by South Africa’s pace attack. Later, as they gradually ate into the intimidating target, they found their feet and timing.

Before Tuesday, Dhas had only once in the tournament faced more than 20 deliveries in an innings. However, he saw this as his chance to shine and he accepted the challenge. Earlier in the week, against Nepal, Dhas and Saharan had saved India from a similar situation after they had lost three early wickets. In this instance, the stakes were higher and the quality of bowling was even higher—possibly the best in the tournament—which is why their comeback was all the more impressive.

Before the Indian batsmen took the lead, their abundance of spin options had already strangled South Africa after Limbani’s big inswing had made the ball talk. From 46 for 2, Pretorius and Richard Seletswane set about mending the innings with a 72-run third-wicket stand, but they took 22.1 overs to do so, putting tremendous pressure on the lower middle order for momentum.

Pretorius fell looking for big runs in an attempt to make up for Seletswane’s slowdown; at one point, he was on 25 not out of 75 balls. This pressure gradually built up on South Africa’s lower order, allowing the spin duo of Saumy Pandey and Musheer to dictate terms. All told, spin accounted for figures of 31-2-120-3.

Before they faced Saharan and Dhas, South Africa had more than a fighting chance because to some heavy blows from skipper Juan James and quick bowler Luus, who helped push the score beyond 250 with 49 runs scored in the final five overs.

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