Jason Rowles struck a crucial 71 for South Africa U19 but was dismissed off final delivery of the day to leave England U19 with the advantage in the second Youth Test in Cape Town.

The left-hander, who struck seven fours and sixes, was holding the hosts’ second innings together at the Western Province Cricket Club when he fell to visiting captain Archie Vaughan, who completed a five-wicket haul.

The Junior Proteas were 145-8 at stumps on day three, leading only by 16.

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 (12 fours, two sixes).

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 runs 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 hosts 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.

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