The U19 World Cup has moved towards the business end with four remaining teams that will vie for a spot in the final. The India U19 team will face South Africa in the first semi-final, with a host of young talents eager to make their name in one of the biggest stages of cricket. Ahead of the IND U19 vs SA U19 semi-final, let’s know the players that are most likely to impact the game.
South Africa
Kwena Maphaka: South Afican left-arm pacer Kwena Maphaka is the highest wicket taker of the tournament so far, taking 18 wickets in five matches so far. The pacer, who is a member of the SA20 side Paarl Royals, possesses raw pace and has the ability to swing the ball both ways. His economy rate of just under 4 makes the bowler so dangerous. He has been hailed as the next Kagiso Rabada in the South African cricketing circles.
Steve Stolk: Steve Stolk has been the most consistent batter for the Proteas in the tournament so far, amassing 214 runs in 5 matches. While the amount of runs might not be up there with the best batters in the tournamnet, Stolk possesses the best strike rate among the batters, scoring runs at just under 149. If he gets going against India, Uday Saharan and co. will have a tough time stopping the batter.
Riley Norton: Riley Norton has provided the Proteas with stability both in batting as well as bowling. He starred in their last match against Sri Lanka U19s, scoring 41 not out and taking 4 wickets to end Sri Lanka’s run in the tournament. He has taken a total of 11 wickets in the tournament so far and has shown great consistency with his line and length.
India
Musheer Khan: Indian batter Sarfaraz Khan’s brother Musheer Khan has been on a roll in this World Cup. The middle-order batter has scored runs in every opportunity he has got. The batter is leading the run-scoring charts by some distance, amassing 334 runs in 5 matches including two centuries and a half-century. It will be extremely important from India’s perspective for Musheer Khan to score runs when they meet the SA U19 team in the World Cup semi-final.
Uday Saharan: Indian captain Uday Saharan is another batter that has been in top form in the tournament. Saharan has scored 308 runs in five matches, with a single century and two half-centuries to his name. Apart from the batting, his captaincy in the tournament has been brilliant, with his bowling changes and field placements yielding results more often than not.
Saumy Pandey: Left-arm orthodox spinner Saumy Pandey has been India’s best bowler in the U19 World Cup. The spinner is not afraid to flight the ball and has a good stable action, owing to him getting more wickets than any other Indian bowler in the tournament. He has taken 16 wickets in 5 matches in the U19 World Cup and just needs two more to become the highest wicket-taker.
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