INDU19 vs SAU19 Semi-Final- On Saturday, February 3, the U-19 Cricket World Cup semi-final schedule was announced following Pakistan’s thrilling 5 run victory against Bangladesh in Super Six stage match.
With just one spot left to be determined, the U19 teams from South Africa U19, Australia U19, and India U19 have already advanced to the semi-finals. With eight points, India had advanced to the Super Six stage as the top team from Group 1, while South Africa and Australia had advanced with seven and six points, respectively, from Group 2.
The semi-finals will be played between the 1st position of Group 1 and the 2nd position of Group 2 of Super Six stage match.
The first semi-final will be between India U19 and South Africa U19. On February 6, the ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup 2024’s first semifinal match will take place at Willowmoor Park in Benoni. India U19, the reigning champions, will take on the hosts, South Africa U19, on Tuesday. South Africa U19 will be eying for their second U-19 World Cup championship, while India U19 will be aiming for their sixth title. They will both play the winner of the second semifinal to win the World Cup.
Those hosting Out of the five matches they have played in the competition thus far, South Africa has only lost one. In their opening Group B encounter, South Africa was defeated by England U19. Still, India U19 is the only team in the competition that has yet to lose. Up untill the Super Six, the boys from team India had won all five of their games.
Thus far, the team captained by Uday Saharan has won five of the five games.
South Africa’s best bowler, left-arm spinner Kwena Maphaka, has taken the most wickets in the competition with eighteen (18) wickets in five matches, thus Indian hitters need to be wary of him.
At different points during the tournament, captain Saharan, wicketkeeper batsman Aravalli Avanish, and explosive all-rounder Arshin Kulkarni have also left their mark.
India’s batsmen are the first and second highest run-scorers in the 2024 U-19 World Cup. Musheer Khan scored 334 runs in five matches with two centuries and one half centuries. And In five games, indian captain Uday Saharan amassed 308 runs with two half-centuries and one century. Saumy Pandey is the highest wicket taker among the Indians with 16 wickets in five matches.
With 211 runs in five games, Lhuan-dre Pretorius leads all South African scorers in runs scored.
When India and South Africa meet in the semi-finals, South Africa will have the advantage of being the home ground.
Note that the Indian team is still unbeaten in South Africa. They will want to upset South Africa at home, building on their previous success.
INDU19 vs SAU19 Semi-Final- Pitch report :
It has been shown that Willowmoore Park’s playing surface is not as conducive to hitters, since bowlers have a tendency to dominate this specific pitch. This general pattern is probably going to continue in the forthcoming match, since pacers like to take advantage of the significant lateral movement that the pitch provides. In this game, fans can expect an exciting and hotly contested struggle between the bowlers and the hitters.
In the important match on this pitch, it was seen that the Bangladesh won the toss and sent Pakistan to bat. But on a low-scoring pitch, Bangladesh’s bowlers kept the Pakistani batsmen in check for 155 runs.
But finally, Pakistan defeated Bangladesh by five runs to confirm the semi-final.
India U19 Possible Playing XI :
Aravelly Avanish (w), Adarsh Singh, Arshin Kulkarni, Musheer Khan, Uday Saharan (c), Priyanshu Moliya, Sachin Dhas, Murugan Abhishek, Raj Limbani, Saumy Pandey, Aaradhya Shukla.
South Africa U19 Possible Playing XI :
Lhuan-dre Pretorius (w), Dewan Marais, Richard Seletswane, Steve Stolk, David Teeger, Juan James (c), Riley Norton, Tristan Luus, Romashan Pillay, Nqobani Mokoena, Kewena Maphaka.
Who will win in this battle of bat and bowler is waiting for time ?
India and South Africa will enter the field with all their energy to reach the final.
