The SA U19 side’s Youth Test series ended 0-0 after the second game ended in a draw due to a final-day washout.

Play in Northampton was impossible on Sunday as the rain, which poured all day, ensured that the Test series between the England U19s and the SA U19s ended in a draw.

Hanco Olivier was named the Man of the Match for his unbeaten 79 runs off 239 balls when his side was under an enormous amount of pressure.

The England U19s batted first in the game and posted 393 all out in their innings. Dominic Sibley, famous for being the youngest cricketer to score a double century in the County Championship, led the way with 99, while Tom Alsop contributed 77.

The next highest score was provided by the extras, with the SA U19 bowlers conceding 46, including 13 wides and 10 no-balls.

SA U19 then collapsed to 77 all out in their reply, conceding a 316-run deficit. England had no hesitation in enforcing the follow-on, and it was then that Olivier stood up to save his side. He and Janneman Malan put on 109 runs for the third wicket, before he added another 46 runs with captain Sibonelo Makhanya (25 not out), to end day three on 235-4.

The rain then came in on Sunday, and the game was drawn. SA U19 coach, Lawrence Mahatlane, said he was proud of his side’s performance during this Youth Test series.

‘The team played really good cricket against a side that has a lot more experience than we do,’ he said. ‘I’m proud of the guys’ ability to regroup when pressure was being laid on them from all ends and the way that they backed one another up throughout.’

Mahatlane is now looking ahead to the One-Day series that will be starting on 15 August in Birmingham. ‘We’re all looking forward to the change in format,’ he continued. ‘It’s going to be a really good skills test for the players.

‘We’ve seen some really good individual and team performances during the Tests; now we will see how well the guys have transferred their lessons from there to the ODIs.’

Report compiled by CSA and SA Cricket magazine.