SA crush India to reach under-19 final

South Africa beat defending champions India by a convincing 112-run margin to reach the final of the ICC Under-19 World Cup on Sunday.

The South Africans will meet the winners of Wednesday's second semifinal between favourites Australia and West Indies.

Set 269 to win, India began well but lost their last six wickets for just 31 runs to be dismissed in the 38th over.

All South Africa's bowlers contributed, and were backed up by some gutsy fielding which thwarted India's attempts to threaten the challenging victory target.

South Africa's batsmen all weighed in with useful scores, apart from Ryan Bailey (9), who has been a consistent performer for South Africa in the competition to date.

David Jacobs top-scored with 69 not out off in just 45 deliveries.

Opener Greg Smith, with 61, and captain Hashim Amla, 62, laid the platform for South Africa's impressive total and the best partnership of the innings was a fourth-wicket stand of 88 between Amla and Jacobs.

All the Indian bowlers were expensive, with medium pacer Irfan Pathan suffering the most with final figures of one for 60.

Mail Cricket Editor