India survived a significant scare within the first semifinal of the continued ICC Men’s U19 World Cup 2024 on Tuesday (February 6) as they pipped South Africa at Willowmoore Park in Benoni to advance to their fifth-consecutive World Cup last and ninth general.
India’s skipper Uday Sharan (81 off 124 balls) performed a pivotal function alongside Sachin Dhas (96 off 95 balls) in securing a tough-fought win which appeared unlikely at one’s stage once they were decreased to 32/4 whereas chasing 245.
Player of the Match, Saharan, disclosed that regardless of being well behind at one level, he knew that “it was a matter of one partnership”.
“It is a great feeling to reach the final. We got a taste of close games, and that will be good in the final. We don’t let the morale get low in the dressing room at all — our environment and coaches are superb,” Saharan informed the host broadcaster.
“Yes, we were well behind at one point. But we kept saying that we have to bat till the end. It was a matter of one partnership,” he added.
Saharan, 19, additionally talked about that the wicket grew to become conducive for batting in the course of the later half of India’s innings and it will definitely helped.
“When I walked into bat, the ball was nipping a bit, and there was a good bounce. But later it (ball) started coming onto the bat better.”Â
On the opposite hand, the South African skipper Juan James acknowledged that the 171-run stand between Saharan and Sachin for the fifth wicket (India’s highest-ever fifth-wicket stand in U19 Men’s cricket World Cup historical past) took the sport away from their grasp.
“When they were batting, when we had them four down, Uday and Sachin batted really well. That’s something we’ve struggled with the whole tournament (breaking partnerships). But we never gave up,” mentioned James.
