TOWNSVILLE: Two-time former champions India reached the ICC Under-19 World Cup final after overcoming New Zealand by nine runs on Thursday in a tense second semi-final here at the Tony Ireland Stadium.

India will clash with reigning champions Australia in the final on Sunday at the same venue, while New Zealand will play South Africa in the third/fourth position play-off tie at the Endeavour Park on Saturday.

Defending a total of 209, India produced an outstanding bowling and fielding performance to restricted New Zealand to 200-9 in 50 overs. Baba Aparajith was declared Man-of-the-Match after the youngster followed up his 61-ball 44 with superb figures of 10-1-29-1 with his brisk medium-pacers.

Put into bat, India managed to do what most other teams have failed in at Tony Ireland Stadium — not to lose early wickets.

The New Zealanders were sharp in the field and captain Will Young, quite possibly took the catch of the tournament, a one-handed dive at mid-wicket to dismiss Prashant Chopra who made 52 off 104 balls with five boundaries and one six.

The rest of India’s top order contributed well and they looked set to post a tough target before left-arm spinner Ben Horne struck with three quick wickets and slowed the India run-rate down.

In reply, New Zealand also looked at ease against the new ball, not losing their first wicket till ninth over.

Harmeet Singh was again dangerous with the ball, taking the wickets of Horne and Young who had previously dominated for the young New Zealanders.

Robert O’Donnell and Cameron Fletcher combined for a valuable fifth wicket stand of 54 before the 17-year-old O’Donnell was dismissed caught and bowled by Aparajith.

Fletcher was the top-scorer for New Zealand with 53 before he was bowled by Sandeep Sharma in the 47th over.

It was deja vu for the Kiwis, needing 18 off the last over again but Sharma was too good for the Indians, bowling tight in the last over to see New Zealand fall just short.

On Friday, the Plate Championship final will be played between Afghanistan and Sri Lanka at the Allan Border Field in Brisbane.

In the Super League, West Indies will meet England in the fifth/sixth position play-off while Pakistan will meet Bangladesh in the seventh/eighth position play-off.

Brief scores of other matches: Plate Championship (play-offs) At Peter Burge Oval, Brisbane: 13th/14th position play-off — Nepal beat Papua New Guinea by six wickets.

PAPUA NEW GUINEA 89 in 33.1 overs (Rahul Vishvakarma 6-3); NEPAL 90-4 in 18.5 overs (Albert Geita 3-25).

At WEP Harris Oval, Brisbane: 15th/16th position play-off — Zimbabwe beat Namibia by 70 runs.

Zimbabwe 236-9 in 50 overs (Ryan Burl 78, Matthew Bentley 67, Kevin Kasuza 33; Jason Davidson 3-26, Bredell Wessells 2-38, Chris Coombe 2-65); Namibia 166 in 40.5 overs (Gerhard Erasmus 32, Luke Jongwe 3-29, Peacemore Zimwa 3-47, Wellington Masakadza 2-26).

Friday’s fixtures: Super League: 5th-6th position play-off — England v West Indies (Endeavour Park No 1).

7th-8th position play-off — Pakistan v Bangladesh (Endeavour Park No 2).

Plate Championship: Final (9th-10th play-off) — Afghanistan v Sri Lanka (Allan Border Field, Brisbane).

11th-12th position play-off — Ireland v Scotland (WEP Oval Harris, Brisbane).—Agencies