The touring SA U19 side lost the first Youth Test at Thiruvananthapuram against India U19 by nine wickets, but the side will take some valuable lessons into the next match.
The SA U19 side started day three on 34-3, with Andile Mokgakane and Bonga Makhakha moving the score to 51 before the loss of Mokgakane for 30 off 61 balls.
Makhakha rolled up his sleeves and gritted out a hard-earned 74 off 165 balls with eight boundaries in an innings which would have taught the young man a great deal that he will be able to take with him through the rest of his career.
Sadly, none of his teammates could make it into the 20s, with Bryce Parsons (16 off 27), Kgaudisa Molefe (14 not out off 37 balls) and Luke Beaufort (11 off 44 balls) the only other batsmen to make it into double figures.
SA U19 were bowled out for 167 off 66 overs, with Manav Suthar (3-44), Hrithik Shokeen (3-52) and Anshul Kamboj (2-12) getting among the wickets.
India U19 knocked off the 35 runs needed for victory with the loss of just one wicket, first-innings centurion (and Man of the Match) Divyaansh Saxena caught by Makhakha off Lifa Ntanzi for 18 off 19 balls (including four boundaries).
The second Youth Test starts at the same venue on Tuesday 26 February.
Photo: Cricket South Africa (Facebook)
