India win the battle of Group A heavyweights

The battle of the heavyweights of Group A in the ICC Under-19 World Cup failed to materialise into the hoped-for close contest.

A fine century in difficult conditons by Chanda Madan ensured a clear victory to India by 71 runs.

Initially South Africa had the initiative, putting India in on a greenish Albany pitch and taking advantage of the inability of the Indian top order to counter a South African attack that extracted plenty of bounce.

Unfortunately for the South African cause, wayward tendencies allowed India at 59/4 to be rather better off than they deserved.

Brent Kopps, a lively left-armer, produced an opening over that included three wides, two no-balls and the umpire's advice for running on the wicket. Kopps, second over, a wicket maiden, was in stark contrast and symptomatic of the South African inconsistency.

The Indian revival was built around the superbly constructed century by Madan. First, in a 64-run partnership with Mohnish Mishra, he set about resurrecting the innings and then with Rakesh Mohanty (11) and later Irfan Pathan (17) he dominated the South African bowling to take India through to the relatively respectable 227/8.

After being intent on surviving the early pressure of India's hazardous position and the South African attack, Madan picked up the pace, like most of the Indian batsmen looking more comfortable coming forward. He reached his 100 from 105 balls, finishing undefeated on 105.

After taking advantage of the early life in the pitch, only two of the South African bowlers managed to maintain control, the other opening bowler Ryan McLaren finishing with two for 35 off 10 after being brought back at the death and first change Brendon Reddy two for 26 off nine.

The South African openers, David Jacobs and Stephen Cook, began the innings as if looking for a bonus point, going to 40 in the ninth over before Pathan clean bowled Cook (18) with the score at 44.

From there, the innings fell into a trough as three more wickets fell in quick succession and then the tight bowling of medium pacers Stuart Binny and Maninder Bisla dried up the runs.

McLaren offered some resistance, his developing innings cut short when he was run out for 33 with the score 126 for six. The rest of the innings crumbled against the accuracy and guile of the latest Indian spin twins, Mohanty and Abhishek Sharma, the innings finishing at 156 in the 43rd over.

The Indian bowlers all played a role, Pathan taking two for 18 off seven overs, Bisla one for 23 off 10 and Mohanty two for 24 off 6.3.

India are assured of a trip to Christchurch; South Africa need to put away Canada to make sure they follow them south.