Jason Rowles struck a crucial half century but fell from the final delivery of the day to leave England Under-19 with the advantage after the third day of the decisive second Youth Test at Western Province Cricket Club in Cape Town on Wednesday.
The left-hander was holding the hosts’ second innings together with 71 (117 balls, 7 fours, 2 sixes) when he was dismissed by visiting captain Archie Vaughan, who subsequently completed a five-wicket haul, to put his team in control.
The junior Proteas went to stumps on 145 for eight – leading only by a slender 16 – with just the bowlers to bat.
Although Vaughan claimed five for 18, England’s day was set up by a fine century from Aaryan Sawant after he dug in to record 130 off 293 balls (12 fours, 2 sixes).
The tourists had started the day marginally ahead of the South Africans as they led by 27 when starting out on 251 for eight.
But Sawant and Alexander Wade (49*) frustrated the opposition with a partnership worth 127 for the ninth wicket, before Bandile Mbatha (1/43) finally ran out the former and then claimed the wicket of Tazeem Ali for seven.
When the sides changed over, England’s lead had swelled to 129. The home side lost early wickets to fall to 42 for three, before Daniel Bosman (26) and Rowles added 66 for the fourth wicket to reduce the deficit drastically.
However, five wickets fell from then onwards as they fell from 108 for three to 130 for seven, with the crucial wicket of Rowles adding further pain and leaving them with plenty to do on the final day of the series.
SA U19 Men’s Youth ODI Squad against England U19
Bennie Hansen (captain, Western Province), Daniel Bosman (Western Province), Raeeq Daniels (Western Province), Divan de Villiers (Titans), Carl Fryer (North West), Paul James (Western Province), Enathi Khitshini (Garden Route Badgers), Adnaan Lagadien (Western Province), Chad Mason (KZN Inland Tuskers), Bandile Mbatha (Dolphins), Nqobani Mokoena (Dolphins), Lethabo Phahlamohlaka (Titans), Semal Pillay (Dolphins), Jason Rowles (Lions), and Ntando Soni (Dolphins).
SA U19 Men’s Youth Test Squad against England U19
Bennie Hansen (captain, Western Province), Daniel Bosman (Western Province), Muhammad Bulbulia (North West), Raeeq Daniels (Western Province), Divan de Villiers (Titans), Paul James (Western Province), Martin Khumalo (Eastern Storm), Adnaan Lagadien (Western Province), Chad Mason (KZN Inland Tuskers), Nqobani Mokoena (Dolphins), Lethabo Phahlamohlaka (Titans), Nathan Rossouw (North West), Jason Rowles (Lions), Jorich van Schalkwyk (Titans), and Sandiswa Yeni (Dolphins).
SA U19 Men’s Tour against England U19
Youth ODI Series
Friday, 17 Januaryat 10:00
South Africa U19 lost to England U19 by 5 wickets – Western Province Cricket Club, Cape Town
Sunday, 19 January at 10:00
South Africa U19 beat England U19 by 5 wickets – Western Province Cricket Club, Cape Town
Wednesday, 22 January at 10:00
South Africa U19 beat England U19 by 4 wickets – Paul Roos Gymnasium, Stellenbosch
Youth Test Series
26 – 29 January at 10:00
South Africa U19 drew with England U19 – Coetzenburg Oval, Stellenbosch
03 – 06 February at 10:00
South Africa U19 vs England U19 – Western Province Cricket Club, Cape Town
