IND vs SA U19 World Cup Semifinal highlights: India knock out hosts South Africa to reach FINAL

The Indian captain is awarded the Player of the Match award for his brilliant 81 off 124 balls knock as he stayed till very last to boost India to their 9th U19 World Cup final. 

I had a belief on myself that I can do it, just one partnership we needed and could cross the line. When the ball was new, took some time but once it became old we played our shots.

A couple of wide deliveries and a sensational boundary from Uday Saharan finish the game with 7 balls remaining. India beat South Africa by 2 wickets to reach the ICC U19 World Cup 2024 final. This is the fifth consecutive final entry for the young Indian guns. 

Uday Saharan suffers a run out at the non-striker's end as India lose their 8th wicket when they need just 1 run to win the match. Saharan scored 81 off 124 balls.

Raj Limbani changes the momentum by smashing a huge six off Riley Norton on the first delivery he faces. India - 236/7 in 48 overs. 

Another late wicket as South Africa made a stunning comeback. Dewan Marais's direct throw at the non-striker's end finishes Murugan Ashwin's lazy effort reaching the crease. India - 227/7 in 47.2 overs.

It's Kwena Maphaka again as Riley Norton takes a stunning catch at the third man to dismiss Avanish Aravelly to make things interesting late in the game. India - 226/6 in 47 overs. 

Finally a boundary for India as Aravelly Avanish smashes a straight drive off Riley Norton. India scorch 7 runs from the 46th over. India - 224/5 in 46 overs.

Another excellent over from Kwena Maphaka as he bowls three dot balls and concedes only 5 runs. India - 217/5 in 45 overs. 

No boundaries from India since the departure of Sachin Dhas as the game goes to the wire. India - 212/5 in 44 overs. 

It's Kwena Maphaka with a big breakthrough as the rising pacer removes Sachin Dhas who scored 96 off 95 balls. India - 203/4 in 42.1 overs. A late drama in the game?

India now need only 45 off 54 balls to win this thrilling semifinal encounter. Uday Saharan smashes a four off Nqobani Mokoena as India reach the 200-run mark. India - 200/4 in 41 overs.

Sachin Dhas and Uday Saharan smash a boundary each of Juan James as the duo add 160* runs for the fifth wicket to scorch from 32/4 to 192/4 in 40 overs.

Uday Saharan and Sachin Dhas add 14 runs off Juan James in the 40th over as India move closer to win. India - 192/4 in 40 overs.

No boundaries in the last two overs as Nqobani Mokoena and Juan James are keeping South Africa alive in this game with impressive spells. India are still favourites as they chase 71 runs in 72 balls. India - 174/4 in 38 overs. 

Indian captain registered his fourth 50+ score in this tournament as he smashed a four off Juan James to complete his fifty in 88 balls. India - 168/4 in 36 overs. 

It's India in a driving seat now as they put 150 runs on the scoreboard with Uday Saharana and Sachin Dhas dominating the Proteas bowlers. India now need 95 runs in 99 balls. 

Only 18 overs to go and India now need 103 runs to secure a place in the World Cup final with six wickets in hand. 

India captain Uday Saharan becomes the leading run-getter in the ICC U19 World Cup 2024 as he surpasses teammate Musheer Khan's 338 runs tally. 

Uday Saharan also accelerates his innings with some quick runs. Saharan and Sachin Dhas also add 100* runs for the fifth wicket. India - 138/4 in 31 overs. 

Another excellent knock by the 19-year-old batter. Sachin completes his fifty in just 47 balls by smashing two consecutive fours off Whitehead and India continue to make their return. India - 117/4 in 27 overs. 

India surpasses 100 as Uday Saharan and Sachin Dhas add 72* runs for the fifth wicket. It's a long road but the game looks slightly in favour of India at the moment. India - 104/4 in 25 overs.

Sachin Dhas and Uday Saharan add unbeaten 50 runs for the fifth wicket as India somehow managed to balance the game. India - 82/4 in 22 overs.

After the early collapse, Indian batters Sachin Dhas and Uday Saharan are slowly bringing India back into the game. Sachin smashed three fours off Riley Norton to ease off some pressure. India - 71/4 in 19 overs.

GONE!!! India are in deep trouble now at 32/4 in the 245-run chase in the 12th over of the innings. Priyanshu Moliya is GONE

More trouble for India now. They have lost the other opener as well. Arshin Kulkarni has been caught in slips. He was incited by Maphaka and has edged this outside off delivery to the slips. India 25/3

The defending champions are in a bit of trouble currently. They are already two down and the scoring rate has been poor as well.

Another one down. Highest run-getter and the player with two centuries this tournament - Musheer Khan has departed too. A short of a length ball well outside off, Musheer wanted to guide this on the off side but retracted at the end. The ball caught the edge and taken at slips.

Ohh no!! Kwena Maphaka has got the wicket off the very first ball. Kwena Maphaka gets Adarsh caught behind with a peach-of-a-delivery. It's the first blow India and a big one. 

A good score by the South African side. Despite a few wickets fell at the end, they managed to get 244 on the board.

The Proteas skipper Juan James has to walk back now. India are getting wickets in a pack now. From being 163/3, they go down to 220/7.

South Africa have lost their key man Seletswane. They are into the final 10 overs and are looking to break free to set a very strong target but this is a big blow. Naman Tiwari gets the wicket, SA 6 down for 214

And that's big blow. Dewan Marais has helped South Africa well with the bat so far in the tournament. Saumy Pandey finally gets his first wicket of the day. SA five down now.

Richard Selestwane finally marks a fifty as he is looking to accelerate ZZimbabwe's innings in the last ten overs. Zimbabwe - 171/2 in 41.2 overs. 

Musheer gets the breakthrough. He removes Whitehead and the 45-run stand has come to an end. SA are 163/4 after 40 overs.

SA have slowly and steadily gone past 150. Seletswane is carrying the team with a careful knock.

Musheer Khan gives India a much-needed breakthrough with a big big wicket of Lhuan-dre Pretorius. South Africa - 126/3 in 33 overs. Pretorius scored 76 off 102 balls.

Lhuan-dre Pretorius (76*) and Richard Seletswane (21*)continue to dominate in Benoni as South Africa are eyeing a challenging total going into the last 20 overs. South Africa - 118/2 in 30 overs. 

Pretorius has crossed his fifty. Seletswane is going very slowly. He is going with a strike rate of about 35 only. SA have crossed 100 in the 26th over. 

South Africa are being led by Pretorius well. He is inching closer to 50. India have brought in Saumy Pandey and Arshin. India look for more wickets.

The Proteas have brought up their 50 inside the powerplay. Pretorius is going strong at the moment

He gets another one. Raj Limbani with this wonderful swinging delivery cleans up David Teeger

And India have finally got a wicket. Raj Limbani gets Steve Stolk for 14. This was a no-harm delivery well outside off on a good length. Stolk went searching for a cut, ends up edging it to get caught behind.

Pacer Raj Limbani is making life difficult for the Proteas batters. He is getting some good movement and making it challenging for the openers. 

The first semifinal is live now. Steve Stolk and Lhuan-dre Pretorius in the middle for SA, Raj Limbai to start for India. Here we go!

We are done with the anthems now and its time for the action to begin

South Africa's Playing XI:

Lhuan-dre Pretorius(w), Steve Stolk, David Teeger, Richard Seletswane, Dewan Marais, Juan James(c), Oliver Whitehead, Riley Norton, Tristan Luus, Nqobani Mokoena, Kwena Maphaka

Just one change for India. Naman Tiwari is in for Aaradhya Shukla

India's Playing XI:

Adarsh Singh, Arshin Kulkarni, Priyanshu Moliya, Uday Saharan(c), Sachin Dhas, Musheer Khan, Aravelly Avanish(w), Murugan Abhishek, Raj Limbani, Naman Tiwari, Saumy Pandey

And India U19 have opted to bowl first. A bit of a surprise that. They have won all the matches batting first. 

The toss is coming up from Willowmoore Park, Benoni. India have won only one toss in the tournament so far. But that has not derailed their dominance. They have batted first on all occasions so far 

Musheer Khan, Naman Tiwari, Sachin Das, Arshin Kulkarni, Adarsh Singh are some of the Indian stars that have been extremely good so far. You shall definitely keep a tab on them for today's game

This is set to be the biggest challenge for India now. The Proteas pace is fiery and Kwena Maphaka has wreaked havoc in the opposition batting lineup. He has good skills to swing the ball and a gun bowler at the death.

SA have lost just one match in the tournament so far. They went down to England in a group game

SA's run:

SA beat WI by 31 runs

Lost to ENG by 36 runs

Beat Scotland by 7 wickets

Beat ZIM by 9 wickets

Beat SL by 119 runs

Uday Saharan's boys have been pretty dominant in the tournament so far. They have toppled the teams with some spectacular batting performances along with brilliant bowling performances too. Musheer Khan is the leading run-scorer in the tournament, while Saumy Pandey has wreaked havoc with his left-arm spin. 

India's run:

Defeated Bangladesh by 84 runs

Defeated Ireland by 201 runs

Defeated USA by 201 runs

Defeated New Zealand by 214 runs

Defeated Nepal by 132 runs

It's the time for the semifinals in the U19 World Cup now as India and South Africa are all set to face each other in Benoni today. India's unbeaten run is up against the Proteas. The finale is just one more step short now. Both have been extremely good in the tournament with India being one of the only two teams to be undefeated in the tournament so far. The Proteas suffered just one loss but have been pretty dominant in their bowling. This will be a contest of India's fiery batting vs South Africa's lethal bowling. Stay with us as these two look to seal a place in the final.