Kuala Lumpur, Mar 1: South Africa set up a title clash against India in the Under-19 Cricket World Cup after crushing defending champions Pakistan by 98 runs under Duckworth/Lewis method in the rain-affected second semifinal here today.

South Africa needed 20.4 overs today, after a delayed start of two hours and 20 minutes due to wet outfield, to skittle out Pakistan for 153 in a total of 39.3 overs after the game was carried over to the reserved day due to bad weather yesterday.

Pakistan, the 2004 and 2006 winners, were unlucky to bow out of the tournament after needing only five runs in seven balls if the stipulated 20 overs had been bowled yesterday.

Pakistan were 86 for 2 yesterday while chasing revised target of 252 from 47 overs under Duckworth/Lewis method following a brief rain interruption after South Africa made 260 for eight in their allotted 50 overs.

Off-spinner Mohammad Vallie returned 4-25 for South Africa as opener Ahmad Shehzad played a lone hand for Pakistan with a fluent 60 containing six boundaries and a six before he was dismissed yesterday.

India will take on South Africa in the day-night final tomorrow at the Kinrara Oval with a reserve day set aside with forecast predicting heavy rain over the next 24 hours.

The win by South Africa prevented a repeat of the 2006 summit clash between India and Pakistan and also dashed Pakistan's hopes of their third successive title in cricket's junior premier event.

Smuts and Rossouw put on 91 for the second wicket after Malan had fallen for 15 in the eighth over, caught behind off seamer Ali Asad.

The Proteas lost direction for a while in the slog overs, losing three wickets for seven runs before Reeza Hendricks smashed an unbeaten 17-ball 27 to take his side past the 250-run mark.

Pakistan captain Imad Wasim was the most successful bowler, claiming 3-44 with his accurate left-arm spin. Seamer Mohammad Rameez and Shahzad picked up two wickets each.

Pakistani coach Mansoor Rana said the early setback cost his team dearly.

"The idea was to bat around Amin who would be the anchor at one end while the others went for the runs," said Rana.

"I told the boys to forget what happened yesterday and see it as a 29-over game in which we needed 166 more. But losing Amin off the first all changed the whole game."

A beaming South African coach Ray Jennings said he looked forward to the final against India, who beat his team by six wicket in the preliminary league.

"We are the underdogs because there are huge expectations on India, but I like it that way," he said.

"We have had a tough semifinal and the boys will be playing for a third day in a row, but they are in good spirits for the final."

South Africa Under-19s innings: PJ Malan c Ali Asad b Adil Raza 15, JT Smuts c Usman Salahuddin b Ahmed Shehzad 58, RR Rossouw c Umar Akmal b Ahmed Shehzad 53, JD Vandiar c Azhar Attari b Mohammad Rameez 50, MY Vallie lbw b Imad Wasim 9, WD Parnell c Umar Amin b Imad Wasim 17, RA Adams c Ahmed Shehzad b Imad Wasim 1, RR Hendricks not out 27, SA Engelbrecht b Mohammad Rameez 8, BG Barnes not out 1 Extras: (lb 3, w 12, nb 6) 21 Total: (8 wickets; 50 overs) 260 (5.20 runs per over) FOW: 1-35, 2-126, 3-142, 4-173, 5-219, 6-223, 7-226, 8-255 Bowling: Adil Raza 10-0-58-1, Mohammad Rameez 10-2-48-2, Azhar Attari 5-0-33-0, Umar Akmal 7-0-39-0, Imad Wasim 10-0-44-3, Ahmed Shehzad 8-0-35-2

Pakistan Under-19s innings: Ahmed Shehzad c Engelbrecht b Adams 60, Umar Akmal c Vallie b Parnell 12, Shan Masood b Parnell 0, Umar Amin st Barnes b Malan 22, Ali Asad lbw b Adams 5, Usman Salahuddin c Rossouw b Vallie 16, Umair Mir b Vallie 0, Imad Wasim c Vandiar b Engelbrecht 13, Mohammad Rameez c Hendricks b Vallie 4, Adil Raza not out 6, Azhar Attari c Engelbrecht b Vallie 1 Extras: (b 1, w 12, nb 1) 14 Total: (all out; 39.3 overs) 153 (3.87 runs per over) FOW: 1-17, 2-17, 3-87, 4-95, 5-124, 6-124, 7-135, 8-144, 9-145, 10-153 Bowling: WD Parnell 9-0-39-2, M Arnold 7-0-41-0, RA Adams 7-1-22-2, PJ Malan 4-0-13-1, MY Vallie 8.3-1-25-4, RR Hendricks 1-0-5-0, JD Vandiar 1-0-4-0, SA Engelbrecht 2-1-3-1