SA U19s gear up for tough fight against unbeaten India
SA will face a stiff challenge when they take on the unbeaten Indian side in the first semifinal of the U19 World Cup cricket tournament today.
The playoff matches will take place in Benoni before Sunday’s tournament decider.
Pakistan clinched the last berth in the semis with a thrilling triumph over Bangladesh on Saturday, and will battle it out against group two pacesetters and three-time champions Australia in the other semifinal on Thursday.
India have been in supreme form, defeatingBangladesh by 84 runs, Ireland by 201, US by 201, New Zealand by 214 and Nepal by 132.
There is no doubt that India’s strength so far at the tournament has been their batting, and Musheer Khan has played a major part in this with two centuries and a half-century, to have the most runs of any player at the event.
India have batted first in every match during their unbeaten run in SA and will back
Musheer and his fellow top-order to put another big score on the board against the tournament hosts.
SA lost to England by 36 runs on the DLS method, but defeated West Indies by 31 runs, Scotland by seven wickets, Zimbabwe by nine wickets and Sri Lanka by 119 runs.
SA U19 paceman Kwena Maphaka has been in sensational form with the new ball for most of the tournament and his ability to get some movement early could be diffiIn cult for the India top order to handle.
If the tournament hosts are to defeat the reigning champions Maphaka will need to make early inroads.
Australia are also unbeaten, though one match against the West Indies was abandoned by rain.
While teammates Hugh Weibgen and Harry Dixon have scored more runs than Sam Konstas at the tournament, it’s the Australia No 3 who might hold the key to their batting fortunes.
He hit a superb 108 against the West Indies and looks to be hitting form at the right time of the tournament.
Pakistan have also excelled and will look to new-ball bowler Ubaid Shah to put Australia under pressure.
The Aussie top-order has looked a bit fragile at times during the tournament and if the quick right-armer can claim early wickets, the Asian team will fancy their chances.