India down Kiwis to make under-19 World Cup final

India overcame a rain-reduced target and a brilliant display by New Zealand's Corey Anderson to enter the under-19 World Cup final here on Wednesday.

Left-handed Anderson smashed 70 off 68 and balls and took a stunning catch, but India held their nerves amid mounting tension to squeak home by three wickets in a rain-hit semi-final under lights.

Sreevats Goswami made 51 and captain Virat Kohli hit a fluent 43 as India, set a revised target of 191 from 43 overs, survived a middle-order collapse to win with nine deliveries to spare.

New Zealand had made 205-8 after electing to take first strike in overcast conditions at the Kinrara Oval.

India await the winners of Friday's second semi-final between defending champions Pakistan and South Africa in the title clash on Sunday.

The Indians lost in-form opener Taruwar Kohli in the seventh over and star batsman Tanmay Srivastava in the 14th to slip to 40-2.

Srivastava fell to a remarkable catch at mid-on by Anderson, who dived to his left and plucked the ball in mid air after the batsman had played an uppish drive off India-born Anurag Varma.

Left-hander Goswami and Kohli steadied India with a 84-run stand for the third wicket, but India lost four wickets for 33 runs to almost mess up the chase.

India, cruising at 150-3 at one stage, dipped to 183-7 before Saurabh Tiwary took his team home with an unbeaten 29 which included the winning two runs off spinner George Worker.

KUALA LUMPUR, AFP