Chad Mason top-scored and claimed two wickets but it was not enough as South Africa Under-19 Men were swept aside by England in the opening match of their three-match Youth One-Day International (ODI) series at Western Province Cricket Club in Cape Town on Friday.
The tourists won by five wickets after first bowling out their hosts for 87 and then chasing down their target in 18.3 overs.
KZN Inland Tuskers star Mason was one of just two players to record double figures after recording 23 off 47 balls, while Bandile Mbatha managed 12.
Then with the ball Mason took two for 22 in fours overs with Jason Rowles landing two for 12, but it was still not enough as the visitors won comfortably to move ahead 1-0 in the series.
Earlier in the day, captain Bennie Hansen called the toss correctly and chose to bat first, but the junior Proteas struggled as the England bowlers wreaked havoc.
James Minto removed three of the top five with his return of three for 15, amongst them the prize wicket of Cubs Week Batter of the Week, Rowles for seven. The other top-order batters were dismissed by Harry Moore (2/17), leaving South Africa in heaps of trouble at 27 for five.
Mason and Mbatha did their best to conjure up some sort of target, and with the aid of extras (17), they managed to set 88.
Ben Dawkins fell early to Nqobani Mokoena (1/20) for one, before Ben Mayes (51 off 48 balls, 8 fours, 1 six) and Archie Vaughan (26) seized command with a stand worth 68 that killed off any hopes of a win for the home side.
In the end, the English cruised home with more than 31 overs to spare.
Malibongwe Maketa’s side returns to Western Province Cricket Club on Sunday as they seek to bounce back and level the series in the second ODI.
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 vs England U19 – Western Province Cricket Club, Cape Town
Wednesday, 22 January at 10:00
South Africa U19 vs England U19 – Paul Roos Gymnasium, Stellenbosch
Youth Test Series
27 – 30 January at 10:00
South Africa U19 vs England U19 – Coetzenburg Oval, Stellenbosch
03 – 06 February at 10:00
South Africa U19 vs England U19 – Western Province Cricket Club, Cape Town
