India U19 vs South Africa U19 – The ICC Under 19 World Cup 2024 reaches a crucial juncture as hosts South Africa gear up to take on defending champions India in the first semifinal at Benoni’s Willowmoore Park on Tuesday, February 6.
India, with their illustrious history in the tournament, have been in scintillating form, remaining undefeated with five commanding victories in as many matches. Their latest triumph saw them thrash Nepal by 132 runs while defending a formidable total of 297. However, facing a strong opponent in South Africa and navigating the challenging conditions at Willowmoore Park will test their mettle.
Notably, teams batting first have struggled at this venue, and all of India’s victories in the tournament thus far have come while batting. This trend adds an intriguing dimension to the semifinal clash.
On the other hand, South Africa’s U19 team, buoyed by the home advantage and a pace-friendly surface at Benoni, will bank on their fast bowlers to make an impact. Despite winning four out of five matches in the tournament, they face the daunting task of overcoming an India U19 side that has proven to be their nemesis in recent encounters. The Proteas haven’t tasted victory against India in their last five youth ODI meetings, setting the stage for a compelling battle between bat and ball.
India U19 vs South Africa U19 – Pitch Report: Willowmoore Park, Benoni
The pitch at Willowmoore Park in Benoni typically favors fast bowlers in white-ball cricket. With its green surface, pacers find ample assistance, particularly with the new ball. Consequently, viewers can anticipate a match characterized by low scores on Tuesday.
The toss will play a pivotal role, as history indicates that teams batting first have won only eight out of the 27 One Day International (ODI) matches held at this venue. Interestingly, in the U19 World Cup 2024, teams chasing have won just one out of three games at Benoni. Pakistan recently defended a modest total of 155 runs successfully, while Afghanistan required 49.3 overs to chase down 147 runs in the tournament’s inaugural match at this ground.
Records and Stats at Willowmoore Park, Benoni:
- Total ODI Matches: 27
- Matches won batting first: 8
- Matches won bowling first: 17
- Average first innings score: 233
- Average second innings score: 179
- Highest total scored: 399/6 by South Africa vs Zimbabwe
- Highest score chased: 258/3 by Sri Lanka vs South Africa
- Lowest total recorded: 91/10 by Netherlands vs Bermuda
Given these statistics, teams will need to strategize carefully, considering the historical trends favoring the bowling side.
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