South Africa Under-19s beat England Under-19s by 45 runs in the first Youth Test at Beckenham on July 13, sealing the result on the fourth day after JJ Basson claimed seven wickets in the second innings. Basson finished with match figures of 10 for 123, and his burst through the England middle and lower order proved decisive even as Caleb Falconer fought back with a century that ultimately went in vain.
South Africa posted 295 in their first innings before adding 310 in their second, setting England a target of 386. England were bowled out for 220 in their first attempt and made 340 in reply, chasing the target, falling 45 runs short.
JJ Basson’s Seven-Wicket Spell Turns the Match
Basson took two wickets in as many balls late on the final day, removing Falconer and following it up by dismissing last man Ali Farooq to end the match. His figures of 7 for 77 in the second innings came on a day when England had begun with hope, resuming on 40 without loss overnight. Basson struck early, having Will Bennison caught behind by Muhammed Bulbulia for 9, and kept chipping away through the middle session.
He was helped by a slice of fortune when Rocky Flintoff edged him to third but the catch went down, only for Flintoff to fall three balls later, caught off Jason Rowles trying to pull through square. Basson also had Bulbulia drop Jacob Blades on 46, though Blades made the most of his reprieve and went on to score 65.
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Falconer’s Century Comes Too Late for England
Falconer took 15 balls to get off the mark but announced himself with a six over cow corner off Rowles. He reached fifty by tea with England on 194 for 5, and after the break he combined with Manny Lumsden in a stand of 112 that briefly threatened to change the course of the match.
Lumsden reached his own fifty with a cover drive before Bayanda Majola had him caught behind by Joshua van Biljon in a diving effort, breaking the partnership.
Falconer reached three figures off Michael Kruiskamp soon after, but he played on to Basson at the start of the next over, ending his innings on 102 and leaving England needing something from the tail.
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Last-Wicket Stand Delays but Cannot Prevent the Loss
Bradley Sylvester survived a hat-trick ball from Basson after James Minto was caught at slip off the bowler, and the ninth-wicket pair of Sylvester and Farooq put on 28 runs that pushed the match deep into the final session. Farooq added some late hitting before Basson bowled him to complete the win.
The result gives South Africa Under-19s a 1-0 lead in the two-match series, with Basson’s second-innings burst standing as the difference between the two sides despite Falconer’s hundred and the resistance shown by Blades and Lumsden through the middle overs.
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