By IANS
Kuala Lumpur : An inspiring performance by the colts helped India lift the Under-19 World Cup for the second time, beating South Africa by 12 runs in a nerve-tingling, rain affected final at the Kinrara Academy Oval here Sunday.
Their win capped a great Sunday for Indian cricket, which was also doubled by the news of the seniors beating Australia in the first of three-final at the Sydney Cricket Ground for the first time in 12 years.
The Indian colts made a disastrous start to the eventful final as some poor batting display saw them bundled out for a paltry 159 runs in 45.5 overs. Barring a patient 46 from Tanmay Srivastava, none of the batsmen could rise to the occasion.
But the bowlers atoned for the batsmen’s sins. Double strikes by Ajitesh Argal saw the South Africans struggling at 11 for three by the eighth over. He was also adjudged the man of the match for his clinical bowling of two for seven from his five overs.
In the eighth over, the rain gods came down heavily and forced the umpires to give South Africa a target of 116 runs from 25 overs in accordance with the Duckworth Lewis Method.
After the rain interruption, the Indian bowlers came out firing all cylinders and held their nerves as they saw the South African batting line-up falling like a pack of cards.
Reeza Hendricks with his brisk 35 off 43 balls led the South African fight-back but left arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja snared him up and spoiled their party.
Hendricks along with his captain Wayne Parnell (29) added 50 runs for the fifth wicket partnership and gave South Africa a glimmer of hope to win. But a flashy cut off Jadeja saw Hendrick sneaking to wicketkeeper Shreevats Goswami.
Parnell tried to play a captain’s knock but failed to bail out his team and departed in the penultimate over.
In the last over, South Africa needed 19 runs but some tight bowling by Siddarth Kaul saved the day for India.
Earlier in the day, some good display of fast bowling by Parnell and Matthew Arnold along with electric all-round fielding helped South Africa restrict India to 159.