SA U19 seamer Nqobani Mokoena claimed five wickets on the opening day of the first Youth Test at the Coetzenburg Oval in Stellenbosch.

Mokoena took 5-49 in 21 overs, seven of which were maidens, as the hosts restricted their visitors to 275-8 at stumps.

Mokoena was helped by Raeeq Daniels (2-39) and Martin Khumalo (1-34) with almost all of the bowlers disciplined for the home side, who entered the series on the back of a 2-1 victory in the Youth ODI 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 lbw, 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 21-3.

That became 27-4 after Aaryan Sawant (nine) 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 120-6.

However, they were rescued further by Farhan Ahmed (90 off 150 balls; nine fours, one six) and Jack Home (63 off 116 balls; six fours, two 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.

Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images