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, 7x4, 2x6) 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 145/8 – leading only by a slender 16 – with just the bowlers to bat.
Although Vaughan claimed 5/18, England’s day was set up by a fine century from Aaryan Sawant after he dug in to record 130 off 293 balls (12x4, 2x6).
The tourists had started the day marginally ahead of the South Africans as they led by 27 when starting out on 251/8.
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 42/3, 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 108/3 to 130/7, 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 Test squad
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)
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