Nqobani Mokoena claimed five wickets on the opening day to give South Africa Under-19 Men the advantage over England in the first Youth test at Coetzenburg Oval in Stellenbosch on Sunday.
The right-arm seamer claimed five for 49 in 21 overs, seven of which were maidens, as the hosts restricted their visitors to 275 for eight at stumps.
Mokoena was helped by Raeeq Daniels (2/39) and Martin Khumalo (1/34) with almost all of the junior Proteas’ bowlers disciplined for the home side, who entered the series on the back of a 2-1 victory in the Youth one-day international series that concluded on Wednesday.
After winning the toss and opting to bowl first, Mokoena struck in his first over when he dismissed England captain Archie Vaughan, caught behind by wicketkeeper Lethabo Phahlamohlaka for a duck.
The South Africa star was then on a hat-trick when he trapped Kesh Fonseka leg before wicket, also without troubling the scorers, with the first delivery of his next over.
And when Ben Dawkins (10) was out to the same bowler in the 12th over, the tourists found themselves at 21 for three. That became 27 for four after Aaryan Sawant (9) was cleaned up by Khumalo – the South Africans celebrating their commanding start to the game.
England then hit back thanks to Ben Mayes (37) and Thomas Rew (43), though the pair fell by the 48th over to leave their side precariously placed at 120 for six.
However, they were rescued further by Farhan Ahmed (90 off 150 balls, 9 fours, 1 six) and Jack Home (63 off 116 balls, 6 fours, 2 sixes) as the pair added 153 for the seventh wicket, before the home side finally struck to remove both before the close.
That allowed them to wrestle back the advantage and end the day in the ascendancy.
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 January at 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 v England U19 - Coetzenburg Oval, Stellenbosch
03 – 06 February at 10:00
South Africa U19 v England U19 - Western Province Cricket Club, Cape Town