U19 World Cup: How Uday Saharan and Sachin Dhas helped India beat South Africa and reach fifth straight final

And just like that, South Africa choked in another knockout match of another ICC tournament. Yet again. Their two-wicket defeat to India in the first semi-final of the 2024 Under-19 World Cup at Benoni’s Willowmoore Park on Tuesday might have brought back haunting memories of the senior team’s loss to Australia in the ODI World Cup last year.

However, in a tournament like the Under-19 World Cup, it can be often difficult to predict the outcome of a game, or even a tournament as a whole. Because more than anything, young talents are being exposed to what a major international tournament feels like, and in the end, it’s that learning that matters.

For South Africa U19 side, led by Juan James, it is exactly that reality that struck in the semi-final against India. That, even if you strike in the very first ball of a match or an innings, there’s no certainty that you’re going to go all the way. Afterall, they say never celebrate too early because maybe that’s what cost them the game on Tuesday.

Saharan, Sachin show how it’s done

After having been asked to bat, it wasn’t an easy task whatsoever for the young Proteas as they huffed and puffed their way towards what not many might call it a competitive total – 244/7. Had there been even better contribution from the middle order, South Africa would have probably got to 280-290, but eventually had to rely on fifties from Lhuan dre-Pretorius and Richard Seletswane.

It was, though, with the ball when South Africa would take it up on their own. Afterall, they had the tournament’s highest wicket-taker playing in this contest, so they had nothing to worry about. Kwena Maphaka, a pacer who has shown potential with his swing and bounce, was at it in the very first ball of the chase with an almost unplayable length ball to Adarsh Singh that the latter could only chip it to the wicketkeeper Pretorius.