Big win for England U19 in first youth ODI

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 2-22 in fours overs with Jason Rowles landing 2-12, 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 3-15, 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

© Cricket South Africa