Australia, a three-time Under-19 World Cup champion, surprised Pakistan in the semifinal with a thrilling one-wicket victory, securing their spot in the final against India. This marks Australia's sixth appearance in the tournament's history, where they will face Uday Saharan's unbeaten Indian side. India, after five dominant wins, faced a tough challenge from South Africa, overcoming a batting collapse with Saharan and Sachin Dhas guiding them to a two-wicket victory and their fifth consecutive final qualification.
Reflecting on their past encounters in the Under-19 World Cup finals, the 2012 edition saw skipper Unmukt Chand leading India to victory. After opting to field first, Sandeep Sharma's early breakthroughs limited Australia to 38/4 in 12 overs. However, captain William Bosisto's unbeaten 87, supported by Travis Head and Ashton Turner, propelled Australia to 225/8. In the run chase, Chand's leadership and an unbeaten 129-run partnership with Smit Patel secured India's six-wicket triumph, with Chand scoring 111 not out.
In the 2018 edition, Indian bowlers collectively dismissed Australia for 216, with middle-order batsman Jonathan Merlo top-scoring with 76. Despite early wickets, opener Manjot Kalra's unbeaten 101, along with a crucial partnership with wicketkeeper-batsman Harvi Desai, ensured India's comfortable chase, reaching the target with 67 balls to spare. The encounter showcased India's resilience and depth, setting the stage for an exciting final showdown against Australia.
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