Bennie Hansen and Paul James struck pivotal half-centuries to help SA U19 recover from a poor start to post 224 on the opening day of the second and final Youth Test against England.
Batting at No 7, right-hander James held the innings together by hitting 84 off 179 balls (nine fours, two sixes), while captain Hansen recorded 63 off 104 balls (10 fours) as the hosts were dismissed in 82.5 overs.
The visitors faced three tricky overs and survived to reach the close on 1-0, trailing by 223.
Both teams are level in the series after the opening Test ended in a thrilling draw at Coetzenburg Oval in Stellenbosch last week.
The hosts won the toss at the start and opted to bat first. However, they fell into early trouble and found themselves at 74-5 within 30.5 overs.
Jorich van Schalkwyk (two) fell in the fourth over, with Jason Rowles (one), Muhammad Bulbulia (32), Daniel Bosman (four) and Bandile Mbatha (four) all following.
That left Hansen and James with the difficult task of rebuilding. The pair responded well by putting together a partnership of 73 for the sixth wicket, before the skipper was dismissed by opposite number Archie Vaughan (1-21).
James kept going at the other end, finding a resistant partner in Chad Mason until he too succumbed for a 40-ball 15.
The tempo was then upped by the Junior Proteas’ top-scorer, until he out with the score on 224, two balls before last man Nathan Rossouw fell for a duck to England’s pick of the bowlers, Eddie Jack (3-42).
The away side had three overs to face before the close with Vaughan (one not out) and Ben Dawkins (nought not out) surviving unscathed.
Photo: @ProteasMenCSA/X
