India’s U-19 cricket team secured a commanding 132-run victory over Nepal in their final Super Six Group 1 match, advancing to the semifinals of the ICC U-19 World Cup in Bloemfontein on February 2. Sachin Dhas and skipper Uday Saharan played pivotal roles, scoring 116 and 100 runs, respectively, and forming a crucial partnership of 215 runs. The Indian team, opting to bat first, posted a formidable total of 297/5.
Defending their total, India restricted Nepal to 165/9, with left-arm spinner Saumy Pandey leading the bowling attack with figures of 4/29. Nepal made a strong start in their chase, reaching 65/1, but collapsed to 77/7 before finishing with a total of 165/9. India’s win secured them a spot in the semifinals, where they are set to face South Africa at Benoni on Tuesday.
Saumy Pandey’s performance with the ball earned him the second spot in the tournament’s highest wicket-taker list with a total of 16 wickets. The Indian team has been dominant in the tournament, securing four successive victories with a margin of over 200 runs in each match.
