This was India’s second triumph in the tournament’s history after they captured the crown in 2000 in Sri Lanka.

The win also exorcised the memories of the last edition when India went down to Pakistan in a low-scoring final in the same country. Having been bowled out for 159 after being put in to bat, the Indian bowlers came to the party restricting the Proteas to 103 for eight in 25 overs with the target being revised to 116.

Man of the match Ajitesh Argal was the bowler who brought India back taking two early wickets. But after his quota was reduced  to five overs due to the rain, Ravinder Jadeja (2-25) and Siddarth Kaul (2-26) played their roles to perfection to keep the South African batsmen in check.

Reeza Hendricks (35) and Wayne Parnell (29) were the main scorers for the Proteas but they never managed to break free from the tight leash in which the Indians kept them.

Earlier, Tanmay Srivastava topscored with 46 as India struggled to a total which did not seem enough. India reduced the opposition to 17 for three in 8.4 overs when the heavens opened and the game was stopped for about hours. When play resumed, South Africa needed 99 from 98 balls with seven wickets in hand. Hendricks and Parnell kept the South African fight going with a partnership of 50 runs in 57 balls but the Proteas were always chasing the game. As many as 19 runs were needed off the final over and even though the first ball went for a four, there was never much chance of South Africa getting to the target.

Earlier, The Indian batting succumbed to the disciplined South African bowling and agile fielding to be knocked over for just 159 in 45.4 overs.

South African Parnell was most impressive, claiming two wickets conceding only 21 runs.

Matthew Arnold and Roy Adams also scalped two victims apiece. India were on the backfoot straightaway losing Taruwar Kohli (1) with the team score at three. There were hardly any significant partnerships and the biggest partnership was worth only 47 between Srivastava and skipper Virat Kohli (19). Saurabh Tiwary and Manish Pandey tried to revive the innings after the initial setbacks, but the South Africans never let the Indians get away.

SCOREBOARD

INDIA (U-19): Taruwar Kohli c Malan b Parnell 1, Shriwats Goswami c Hendricks b Arnold 6, TM Srivastava c Engelbrecht b Adams 46, Virat Kohli c Engelbrecht b Malan 19, S Tiwary (run out) 20, M Pandey c Barnes b Arnold 20, RA Jadeja c Vandiar b Vallie 11, Iqbal Abdulla (run out) 9, P Sangwan c Barnes b Adams 13, S Kaul (not out) 1, AK Argal c Barnes b Parnell 1. Extras (LB-2, W-10) 12. Total (all out; 45.4 overs) 159.

Fall of wickets: 1-3 , 2-27, 3-74, 4-83 , 5-120 , 6-122 , 7-137 , 8-150, 9-158. Bowling: WD Parnell 7.4-2-21-2, M Arnold 10-0-30-2, PJ Malan 9-1-23-1, RA Adams 8-0-38-2, MY Vallie 9-0-33- 1, SA Engelbrecht 2-0-12-0.

SOUTH AFRICA (U-19) (Revised target: 116 from 25 overs):  PJ Malan c Goswami b Argal 2, JT Smuts (run out ) 5, RR Rossouw c Jadeja b Argal 0,  RR Hendricks c Goswami b Jadeja 35, JD Vandiar c Goswami b Jadeja 3, WD Parnell c Pandey b Kaul 29, RA Adams lbw Iqbal Abdulla 1, BG Barnes b Kaul 19, M Arnold (not out) 1, Extras (LB-5, W-3) 8. Total (for 8 wkts, 25 overs) 103.

Fall of wickets: 1-5, 2-6, 3-11, 4-22 , 5-72, 6-75, 7-102 , 8-103.
Bowling: Pradeep Sangwan 5-2-14-0, AK Argal 5-2-7-2, Ravindra Jadeja 5-0-25-2, S Kaul 5-0-26-2, Iqbal Abdulla 5-0-26-1.