India vs South Africa Highlights, U19 World Cup 2024 Semi-Final: Sachin Dhas (96) and captain Uday Saharan (81) shine as IND win by two wickets to reach final

It's oft been the thorne that's pricked Indian cricket fans the most in ICC tournaments of late - seeing through a knockout after being put to pressure early. It was the state of India's chase in the semifinal against South Africa in Benoni as Tristan Luus and Kwena Mapheka reduced them to 32/4. 

But just when it seemed the hosts would pull off a comprehensive win, Sachin Dhas (96) and skipper Uday Saharan (81) constructed a crucial fifth wicket partnership. The defending champs wouldn't cross the finish before a couple of final punches from the Proteas but Raj Limbani's cameo down the order was enough to take them through to another U19 World Cup final. Will it be Australia who meet them in the summit clash, again, or will it be the all enticing showdown against Pakistan? We'll be here to give you all the updates. For tonight, this is Rahul Pandey signing off on behalf of Pratyush Raj, Amit Kamath, and myself. 

Uday Saharan, Player of the match: "We were well behind at one point. Kept saying one thing that we have to bat till the end. Was a matter of one partnership. I get that from my dad (taking the game deep). When I walked into bat, ball was nipping a bit, and there was good bounce. Later it started coming onto the bat better. We don't let the morale get low in the dressing room at all - our environment and coaches are superb. Great feeling to reach the final. Got a taste of close games."

Juan James: "They bowled really well. When they were batting when we had them 4 down, Uday and Sachin batted really well. Something we've struggled with the whole tournament. Thing that stands out most for me is never giving up. Want to thank everyone for coming out for every single game."

Nqobani Mokoena entrusted to bowl the penultimate over. His first delivery is overpitched and outside the off stump and it's exactly what skipper Uday Saharan wanted. He creams it through extra cover for four and India are just five runs away. 

The scores are level and the skipper is on strike but in pursuit of a single he's run out. But South Africa's celebrations don't last for long as Raj Limbani scores the winning boundary, a win by two wickets!

Oh dear, this is so poor from Murugan Abhishek. New batter in, eyeing a single, he didn't expect a direct hit and didn't stretch to make into the crease in time. India have lose a seventh wicket. 

But hang on a second, Raj Limbani has smoked a full delivery over mid wicket for six and India are just nine runs away. 236/7 after 48 overs.

In the backdrop of the Kwena chants at the Willowmoore Park, Maphaka steams in to bowl his last over. And he may just have turned the tide in favor of the Proteas. Avanish Aravelly had been struggling from the beginning today and off Maphaka's last ball - a sharp bouncer - he went for the hook and is caught at fine leg. South Africa have a sixth wicket, a third for Maphaka. India, 226/6 after 47 overs.

Riley Norton back into the attack and that round the wicket angle from the pacer is unsettling for Avanish Aravelly. He rotates the strike back to the skipper, whose cut shot behind square on the off side is saved in time from what would've been a welcome boundary for India. The defending champions do get it, from Aravelly's willow, a lovely straight drive off the full face of the bat. 224/5 after 46 overs. 21 needed off the last 24. 

Maphaka into his ninth over. Another wide ball but he has the economy rate under tabs. India finding themselves in a bit of a spot here. Just the five runs off that last over means they require 28 off the last five overs with five wickets in hand. 

And just like that, South Africa have a foot in this game. Maphaka breaks the partnership and Tristan Luus continues to keep the runs under control. Completes his quota of 10 overs by giving away just 37 runs and striking thrice. Avanish Aravelly is finding it difficult to middle the ball here. 212/5 after 44 overs.

Ah, this is going to hurt!

Sachin Dhas, at 96, misreads a slower one from Kwena Maphaka and hands it straight to the fielder to David Teeger at short cover. A shake of the head from the Indian batter as he walks back to a standing ovation from the Indian dressing room. Maphaka gets a second wicket and India are five down for 207.

Nqobani Mokoena to Uday Saharan, short of a length delivery and the Indian skipper hangs back to cut it down backward point for four. 200 up for India and the equation is now down to 45 required off the last 54 balls. 

Just as the required rate was rising up to six, India find a couple of boundaries to bring it down. Sachin Dhas with the slog sweep off Juan James, over mid wicket for six. Later in the over, Uday Saharan hangs deep in his crease and dabs one down short third for four. 192/4 after 40 overs.

Juan James into his seventh over and it's another tight one from the off spinner - just the one run negotiated off it. The home crowd at the Willowmoore Park still voicing their support but it seems the game has gone past South Africa's reach it seems. 

Nqobani Mokoena is back into the attack. The equation just under a run a ball now in Benoni. The onus on the hosts to produce a breakthrough here. A five-run over from the pacer but it's wickets which will help the Proteas see through this game. 173/4 after 37 overs.

Uday Saharan gets to his half century. A juicy full toss from Juan James and the Indian captain plays it through covers for four. It was Saharan and Dhas who had stablised the innings against Nepal. And it's these two again who are shouldering the chase in the semifinal. After 36 overs, India are 168/4.

South Africa bring Kwena Maphaka back into the attack, in the hopes of getting another wicket. He's been South Africa's best pacer in the tournament. A left handed speedster, who idolises Dale Steyn and wants to take the wicket in Test cricket. Read Pratyush Raj's profile on him here.

India cross another milestone and the defending champions have turned this game upside down after a wobbly start. A hundred plys stand and they can now see the win well and truly in sights. Sachin Dhas looks to cut, finds a thick edge, but the luck sides with the India batter as it flies down short third for four. 156/4 after 34 overs. 

Juan James with a delivery slower through the air but he's overpitched it and Indian skipper Uday Saharan makes the most of it with a drive past cover for four. After 30 overs, India are 133/4.

A couple of overs of respite from the boundaries for the Proteas. Juan James and Riley Norton keep it tight from both ends, conceding a total of seven runs from the two overs. This might be where South Africa might be tempted to bring back Tristan Luus and Kwena Maphaka, who have the chief architects with the ball in this innings. Each have four overs left to bowl and South Africa desperately need to break this partnership. 124/4 after 29 overs.

Another short one to Dhas, this time from Oliver Whitehead, and he gets on top of it with a pull shot in front of square and finds the gap for four. Back to back boundaries in the over for India's chief boundary scorer and he gets to his fifty. A crucial knock in the semis under pressure. 117/4 after 27 overs.

India bring up their 100 in the 25th over as Sachin Dhas (47) and captain Uday Saharan (22) continue to mount the comeback from 32/4. This has been an excellent partnership and it continues to keep India in hunt of 245. At the halfway stage, the scoreboard reads 104/4.

Dhas has decided he'll go after Steve Stolk. That crisp shot in his last over, and couple more off his latest. Another pull shot is followed by an exquisite cover drive. Wow, he's on song today. 12 runs come from the 23rd over, India are 94/4.

Steve Stolk comes into the attack. And he offers a sharp back of a length delivery but Dhas is quick to manouvre it with a flat-batted shot between mid wicket and long on for four. Shades of Shubman Gill's short arm jab there from Sachin Dhas. After 21 overs, India are 79/4.

India haven't faced a challenge this stern with the bat at this World Cup. Their top order, especially Musheer Khan has bailed them out more often than not. South Africa did real well to put them four down for 32 but Sachin Dhas isn't shying away from the counter attack. There were signs of it early in his innings but against Riley Norton, he's unleashed three boundaries in the 19th over to put India back to a comfortable seat. He's playing his strokes and India are now 70/4.

A couple of years ago, while playing an invitational U-19 tournament in Pune, the organisers were amazed by the six-hitting prowess of Sachin Dhas and checked the bat’s size to ensure that he was not cheating.

“He is not a muscular guy and back then he was not this tall as well. So him hitting big sixes caught the attention of the organisers and they checked the width of his bat. After a few minutes, they cleared him but they were in shock,” Sachin Dhas’ coach Sheikh Azhar narrates the story to the Indian Express.

Read Pratyush Raj's article about the boy who was named after Sachin Tendulkar.

India are 41/4 after 15 overs. Uday Saharan is playing the anchor role here, scoring just six runs off 28 balls. Sachin Dhas, who had scored a century in the game against Nepal, is on six runs off nine balls.  

Riley Norton comes in for Kwena Maphaka while Mokoena comes in for Tristan Luus as South Africa rest their devastating opening bowlers with two more pacers. No let up for India. 

Norton's first over went for just four runs as IND are 37/4 after 13 overs.

India lose their fourth wicket! Priyanshu Moliya departs for five after edging a ball from Tristan Luus.

Just one ball before he lost his wicket, Moliya had dispatched the ball to the boundary. But ended up gifting his wicket by trying to drive the ball. Tristan Luus has his third wicket! 

IND: 32/4

South Africa have certainly dominated the first power play! India are 26/3 after 10 overs.  26/3 is the worst-ever start for India at this year's U19 World Cup. Priyanshu Moliya has walked out to join skipper Uday Saharan in the middle.

GONE!!

Arshin Kulkarni departs for 12 after edging a rising ball from Tristan Luus to the slips, where James pouches it! 

INDIA ARE 25/3 

The battle between Kwena Maphaka and Arshin Kulkarni is certainly heating up. The South African pacer has been very lippy since the Indian opener swatted him for a six. Maphaka has been sledging the Indian after every ball that goes past the Indian batter. 

This time around, the ball is wide down the leg side, but as wicketkeeper catches it and there is an apepal. There was certainly a noise and the South Africans appeal. But the umpire rules that the ball hit the pad. Arshin Kulkarni survives. 

Arshin Kulkarni and Uday Saharan are following the blueprint that the Indian cricket team has followed all throughout the World Cup: absorb pressure up top and then accelerate later on in the middle overs. They're hanging around, not trying to force things and looking just content to play out the initial burst from Kwena Maphaka and Tristan Luus.

IND are 21/2 after 8 overs

In the seventh over of the innings, India finally manage to hit the ball to the boundary. Kwena Maphaka tries to surprise Arshin Kulkarni with a short ball. Kulkarni pulls it away, and it lands right on the boundary rope at long leg.

IND: 19/2 after 6.4 overs

It takes Arshin Kulkarni eight balls to get off the mark. That's the kind of pressure India are under in the semi-final. 

India manage to get to 10 runs at the end of the fifth over. 

And here are the numbers of the South African speedsters: 

Kwena Maphaka: 3-0-6-1

Tristan Luus: 2-1-3-1

India in deep trouble after losing their second wicket. This time it's Musheer Khan who departs for four runs. He was cramped for room by Tristan Luus with a bouncy delivery and he ended up edging the ball to second slip. 

Just like Adarsh Singh before him, Musheer was surprised by the bounce. Remember India played all their games at Bloemfontein, where the bounce was not as spicy as we're seeing now in Benoni. 

IND: 8/2

Just one run conceded by Kwena Maphaka in the third over, who is bowling from the Ekurhuleni End. The South African fielders are doing their bid too, diving all over the park to stop runs. 

IND: 8/1 after 3 overs

The South African pacers are bowling with fire here. 

After Kwena Maphaka's first over, where he picked up a wicket on the first ball and only conceded three runs from three wides, Tristan Luus bowls the second over and gives away just four runs in an over where he mixed it up nicely: a combination of cutters, short balls and full length balls keeping the Indians guessing. 

IND: 7/1 after 2 overs 

First ball and India are down a wicket! Adarsh Singh edges a sharp bouncing ball from Kwena Maphaka. 

The leading wicket taker of the tournament has one more scalp! 

IND are 0/1

Lhuan-dre Pretorius (76) and Richard Seletswane (64) steer SA to 244/7. Raj Limbani (3/60), Musheer Khan (2/43), Naman Tiwari (1/52), Saumy Pandey (1/38) shared the spoils for India.

Another six for Tristan Luus,  clears his front leg and lofts it straight down the ground over the bowler's head. The ball sails into the sightscreen for the maximum. SA: 244/7 after 50 overs (Tristan Luus 23* Riley Norton 7*)

Tristan Luus clears the long-on. Murugan Abhishek has hurt himself trying to prevent the six and ended up getting hit on the advertisement board. SA: 229/7 after 49 overs (Riley Norton 6* Tristan Luus 9*)

Raj Lambani strikes gets his third wicket. Juan James' cameo is cut short. ames looks to hoick across the line and gets the outside edge through to the keeper. SA: 221/7 after 48 overs (Riley Norton 5* Tristan Luus 1*)

Juan James c †Aravelly Avanish b Limbani 24 (19b 1x4 1x6)

Crunched down the ground by Riley Norton. Limbani has been expensive. SA: 219/6 after 47.2 overs (Juan James 24* Riley Norton 5*)

Naman Tiwari gets the big fish. Seletswane departs for a well-constructed 64. Priyanshu Moliya took a well-judged catch. SA: 215/6 after 46.5 overs (Juan James 24* Riley Norton 1*)

Richard Seletswane c Moliya b Tiwari 64 (100b 4x4 2x6)

Back-to-back boundaries for Seletswane. Sixteen runs came from the Limbani's over.  SA: 211/5 after 46 overs (Richard Seletswane 63* Juan James 23*)

Top edge and Saumy Pandey has put it down. It was a difficult chance. James collects a boundary. 200 is up for South Africa. SA: 201/5 after 45.2 overs (Richard Seletswane 54* Juan James 22*)

Straight as an arrow. This is the first time in the tournament, Saumy Pandey has been hit for a six.It was flighted on the stumps, James went straight down the ground over the bowler's head as the ball cleared the ropes easily for the maximum. Another good over for South Africa, ten runs came off it. SA: 186/5 after 44 overs (Richard Seletswane 54* Juan James 16*)

Eight runs came off Naman Tiwari's over. How many can South Africa get from the last six overs? They will need a final flourish from these two. SA: 186/5 after 44 overs (Richard Seletswane 53* Juan James 8*)

Pandey gets his first wicket.  Murugan Abhishek takes a fine catch in the deep. SA: 174/5 after 42.4 overs (Richard Seletswane 51* Juan James 0*)

Dewan Marais c Abhishek b Pandey 3 (7b 0x4 0x6)

Seletswane gets a life. Not an easy catch by any means. Raj Limbani got there but spilled it at the final second. Naman Tiwari is disappointed. SA: 174/4 after 42 overs (Richard Seletswane 51* Dewan Marais 3*)

Seletswane gets into the act. A flat batted shot past covers as the ball races away to the cover fence for a boundary. SA: 163/4 after 40 overs (Richard Seletswane 49* Dewan Marais 1*)

Musheer strikes again. A wicket against the run of play as Musheer gets rid of Whitehead and India needed this wicket. Eventful over from Musheer. Avanish missed the stumping chance. Whitehead hits a boundary. Musheer Khan had the last laugh.  SA: 163/4 after 40 overs (Richard Seletswane 44* )

Oliver Whitehead c Dhas b Musheer Khan 22 (34b 4x4 0x6)

Saumy Pandey gave away just one run. There is a sharp turn on the pitch. SA: 156/3 after 39 overs (Richard Seletswane 44* Oliver Whitehead 18*)

Seletswane has nailed it. This time off Priyanshu Moliya's bowling. Seletswane walks across and gets down on one knee to make a wonderful connection on this slog sweep. SA: 155/3 after 38 overs (Richard Seletswane 40* Oliver Whitehead 18*)

Well well well! Where were you Richard Seletswane? He breaks the shackles with a massive six over deep square leg. A rare expensive over from Musheer. Twelve runs came off Musheer's ninth over.  SA: 146/3 after 37 overs (Richard Seletswane 32* Oliver Whitehead 17*)

Swept past deep mid-wicket. A welcome boundary for South Africa and Oliver Whitehead.  

Priyasnhu Moliya has nicely played his part today. The off-spinner has kept it tight and has conceded only 16 runs from his six overs. SA: 134/3 after 36 overs (Richard Seletswane 25* Oliver Whitehead 12*)

This is proactive cricket from Whitehead. Poor bowling from Musheer, sprayed down the leg side and Whitehead swept it to get his second boundary.  SA: 132/3 after 35 overs (Richard Seletswane 24* Oliver Whitehead 11*)

Full toss and dispatched straight down the ground by Oliver Whitehead. He collects his first boundary. SA: 126/3 after 33 overs (Richard Seletswane 23* Oliver Whitehead 6*)

Saumy Pandey is back into the attack and he gave away only two runs. Excellent captaincy this from Uday Saharan.  SA: 122/3 after 32 overs (Richard Seletswane 20* Oliver Whitehead 2*)