Benoni (South Africa), Feb 6: Five-time champions India overcame some jittery moments to defeat South Africa by two wickets to advance into the final of the Under-19 World Cup for the ninth time, here on Tuesday.

Skipper Uday Saharan led from the front with a calm and composed 81 (124 balls), while Sachin Dhas scored 96 to bail India out from being 32/4 in their tricky pursuit of 245.

The duo, who had put together a 200-plus stand against Nepal in the previous match, this time stitched a 171-run alliance that came off just 187 deliveries to seize control.

Needing 19 from 19 balls, India lost two wickets -- Aravelly Avanish (10) and Murugan Abhishek (0) in three balls -- but Saharan kept calm in the company of Raj Lambani (13) who sealed their fifth successive final with a boundary.

The pace duo of Kwena Maphaka (3/32) and Tristan Luus (3/37) were the pick of South Africa bowlers.

Earlier opting to bowl, the Saharan-led side restricted South Africa to 244/7.

Wicketkeeper-batter Lhuan-dre Pretorious (76, 102 balls) top-scored for South Africa opening the batting, while Richard Seletswane made 64 off 100 deliveries in a 72-run stand.

New-ball bowler Raj Limbani (3/60) was the pick of the Indian bowler, while Musheer Khan bagged 2/43. Naman Tiwari and Saumy Pandey took one wicket apiece.

Brief Scores:

South Africa 244/7 in 50 overs (Lhuan-dre Pretorious 76, Richard Seletswane 64; Raj Limbani 3/60).

India 248 for 8 in in 48.5 overs (Sachin Dhas 96, Uday Saharan 81; Kwena Maphaka 3/32, Tristan Luus 3/37) by two wickets.

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Udupi (Karnataka) (PTI): Karnataka Police have invoked provisions of the stringent KCOCA against two people in connection with a series of violent crimes, including murder, arising out of a prolonged land dispute in this district, officials said on Monday.

According to police, section 3 of the KCOCA was invoked after an assessment revealed the accused persons' - gangster Kali Yogish and alleged land shark Yogish Acharya- alleged involvement in multiple serious offences over a sustained period.

Accused Yogish has been arrested and remanded to judicial custody by a special KCOCA court in Mysuru, while gangster Kali, who is absconding, is believed to be residing abroad.

The case dates back to December 2022, when Kaup police registered an assault case against the accused duo and their associates for allegedly attacking a person identified as Chandrashekhar and others following a dispute over land ownership.

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The conflict escalated in March 2023 with the murder of a person identified as Sharath Shetty. Police said Shetty was allegedly killed for refusing to support Yogish and for assisting Chandrashekar in the land dispute.

A murder case was registered at Kaup police station, with Chandrashekar cited as a key witness in both cases.

Police further stated that on October 20, 2025, Chandrashekar received a threat at around 8.15 pm, warning him against deposing in court. He was allegedly asked to resolve a financial dispute with Yogish Acharya and threatened with death if he failed to comply.

Based on his complaint, a case was registered under the relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

The investigation was supervised by Assistant Superintendent of Police, Karkala subdivision, Harsha Priyamvada.

Accused Yogish Acharya was initially arrested on October 24, 2025, and later released on bail. He was subsequently re-arrested after the invocation of KCOCA and remanded to judicial custody, police said.