Kuala Lumpur, Mar 02 The India under 19 cricket team continued their unbeaten run in the series as they beat South Africa by 12 runs to become world champions. Chasing a revised target of 116 in 25 overs for victory, the Proteas could manage to score 103 for the loss of 8 wickets. Needing just 19 runs to win off the last over, S Kaul restricted SA to just 7 runs.

Earlier, South Africa lost their sixth wicket at the score of 72 as India looked to tighten the noose on the Proteas batsmen. The latest casualty was RA Adams, who was trapped in front of the wickets by Iqbal Abdulla.

Play resumed in the final of the Under-19 World Cup final after incessant rain had earlier forced players to go off the field. A long delay means that the South Africans will be chasing a revised target of 116 runs in a total of 25 overs.

The Indian bowlers came out firing on all cylinders as they took early wickets to reduce the proteas to three wickets down with just 17 runs on the board.

First to go was opener PJ Malan, who was brilliantly caught behind the wickets by Goswami off the bowling of Argal. Before SA could recover, they were dealt another crucial blow as Argal took his second wicket of the day in the form of Rossouw. Third batsman to take the walk back to the pavilion was JT Smuts, who was run out by wicketkeeper Goswami.

Earlier, India were bowled out for a paltry 159 in 45.4 overs against South Africa in the final of the under-19 World Cup at the Kinrara Academy Oval. Tanmay Srivastav was the top scorer for India with 46. For South Africa, Wayne Parnell, Matthew Arnold and Roy Adams picked up two wickets each.

South Africa captain Wayne Parnell’s decision to field seemed to strike the right cord as his bowlers provided the team with early breakthroughs.

After losing two early wickets in the form of Taruwar Kohli and Shreevats Goswami, Tanmay Srivastava held fort to bail the Indians out of trouble to some extent.

Captain Parnell drew first blood to put India on the backfoot as he claimed the in-form Taruwar Kohli. Soon, goswami perished to Arnold. India captain Virat Kohli tried to pull things back but a stunner of a catch by Engelbrecht sent the skipper back to the dressing room.

India Under-19s innings: T Kohli c Malan b Parnell 1, SP Goswami c Hendricks b Arnold 6, TM Srivastava c Engelbrecht b Adams 46, V Kohli c Engelbrecht b Malan 19, S Tiwary run out (Barnes) 20, M Pandey c Barnes b Arnold 20, RA Jadeja c Vandiar b Vallie 11, Iqbal Abdulla run out (Malan) 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 (3.48 runs per over) FOW: 1-3, 2-27, 3-74, 4-83, 5-120, 6-122, 7-137, 8-150, 9-158, 10-159 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 Under-19s innings: PJ Malan c Goswami b Argal 2, JT Smuts run out (Goswami) 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 b Iqbal Abdulla 1, BG Barnes b Kaul 19, M Arnold not out 1 Extras: (lb 5, w 3) 8 Total:(8 wickets; 25 overs) 103 (4.12 runs per over) FOW: 1-5, 2-6, 3-11, 4-22, 5-72, 6-75, 7-102, 8-103 Bowling: P Sangwan 5-2-14-0, AK Argal 5-2-7-2, RA Jadeja 5-0-25-2, S Kaul 5-0-26-2, Iqbal Abdulla 5-0-26-1