The SA U19 side failed to match England’s young guns in the first youth Test, suffering an emphatic loss.
Fast bowler Jack Plom led the charge for England as they recorded a nine-wicket victory in the first youth Test match against the Coca-Cola South Africa U19s at the Scarborough Cricket Club on Tuesday. The hosts are 1-0 up in the two-match series.
On another overcast day, Plom took advantage of the favourable conditions as he went on to pick up four wickets for 56 runs, restricting the visitors to a low total of 161 in their second innings, leading by just 88 runs. Ben Charlesworth’s unbeaten 41, partnered with Oliver Robinson’s destructive 34 off 27 deliveries – including eight fours – meant England eased to the target within 14 overs.
Earlier, South Africa began the day on the back foot as they lost overnight batsmen Joshua Richards and Jacob Miltz for 19 and seven respectively in the space of two overs. The former fell victim to an unfortunate mix-up between him and Miltz, before being aptly run out by the England captain, Tom Banton. Miltz – the away side’s top scorer from the first innings – became Plom’s first scalp of the day, when he sent the ball straight into Alfie Gleadall’s hands.
With their tails up, England made serious inroads in the visitors’ batting order as Plom added his second, removing Sinethemba Qeshile for nine before another run-out claimed the wicket of Thamsanqa Khumalo (12), who returned to action after retiring hurt on day one. Gleadall also picked up his first wicket, finding the edge to remove Jean du Plessis for six.
Despite valiant rearguard performances with the bat from the skipper Wandile Makwethu (17), Jade de Klerk (18), Achille Cloete (26) and Mondli Khumalo (23), the hosts maintained the pressure by picking up wickets at regular intervals. Alongside Plom, England’s Luke Hollman (2-30) and Gleadall (2-24) ended the innings with two wickets apiece.
South Africa will look to make a vast improvement in the second youth Test match taking place at the Riverside Ground in Durham on Monday, 16 July.
Tour schedule
Monday, 16 July 2018 – Second youth Test (Emirates Riverside)
Monday, 23 July 2018 – First youth ODI (Emirates Riverside)
Thursday, 26 July 2018 – Second youth ODI (South North CC)
Sunday, 29 July 2018 – Third youth ODI (Scarborough)
