England Under-19s posted 271 all out (Falconer 79, Flintoff 55, Kruiskamp 4‑44) and dismissed South Africa Under-19s for 195 (Rowles 85, Minto 3‑21, Farooq 3‑43, Nelson 3‑43) to win by 76 runs.
England secured a 73‑run victory over South Africa in the third and final Under‑19 ODI at Beckenham, clinching the series 2‑1.South Africa appeared to have the advantage halfway through the chase after bowling England out for 271 with just two balls remaining in their innings. Michael Kruiskamp claimed four wickets for 44 runs, while Caleb Falconer top‑scored with 79 and Rocky Flintoff contributed 55.In reply, Jason Rowles made 85 for the visitors, but lacked support from the other batsmen. The momentum shifted when England introduced Leicestershire spinner Ali Farooq, who took three wickets for 43 runs.After James Minto dismissed Knowles, South Africa still required 112 runs to win with three wickets left. Both Minto and Jack Nelson finished with three wickets apiece, and England sealed the win with 6.3 overs to spare.South Africa elected to field first, and left‑arm seamer Michael Kruiskamp removed England’s centurion Ben Dawkins for a duck, caught at first slip by Nkosana Sibiya. He then had Ralphie Albert caught behind for three runs before Will Bennison was caught and bowled by Ntando Soni for 15, leaving England at 41 for three.
A potential collapse was avoided when Sibiya dropped Flintoff off Kruiskamp’s bowling while Flintoff was on eight. Flintoff and Falconer then added a 105‑run partnership for the next wicket.
Falconer lifted a six over Tahseen Hanslo’s head to reach his fifty, but, with a century within reach, he top‑ed a pull shot to Soni, who was caught by Kruiskamp at backward square.
Robbie Bowman scored 12 after driving Vihan Pretorius to Riley Miller at long‑on. After Flintoff nudged the same bowler through point to reach fifty, he struck Rowles to Miller in almost the identical spot.
Charlie Taylor appeared destined for a run‑out when he was three runs short of his crease and several yards out of his ground, but Rowles failed to collect the throw. Taylor did not capitalize, as Kruiskamp claimed two wickets in the 40th over. Jack Nelson ran him out to Sibiya for 15 before bowling Taylor for five, leaving England eight wickets down with ten overs remaining.
James Minto derailed the chase•Getty Images
Manny Lumsden survived a few scares but contributed a valuable 38 runs in a 49‑run partnership with Minto. He struck Kruiskamp for six over square leg and lofted Kamogelo Matlala over his head for another maximum before being dismissed by Paul James in the 48th over.
Minto launched a massive six over long on off James in the final over, but James wrapped up the innings two balls early when Farooq drove the ball to Rowles at cover.
Minto struck the first breakthrough after South Africa raced to 40 without loss, trapping Sibiya for 19 off his own delivery. The Proteas then went ten overs without a boundary, during which Farooq entered the attack and had Jorich van Schalkwyk caught by Bennison for 11 on his fifth ball.
Farooq next had Muhammad Bulbulia caught behind for 11 runs, and Vihan Pretorius, who drove the ball to Dawkins at long‑on for eight.
Riley Miller lofted a catch to Bowman after skying Lumsden, reducing the Proteas to 112 for six. James should have attempted a second run when he hit Farooq toward backward point, but the effort was spoiled by Minto.
With the required run rate nearing eight, Rowles struck Nelson for six over long‑on and repeated the feat over long‑off in the same over. When Minto returned from the Beckenham End, he dismissed the Proteas’ chief threat thanks to a spectacular diving catch by Falconer.
Minto then had Hanslo caught in the deep by Lumsden for a single, while Kruiskamp lofted a straight hit to Lumsden at mid‑wicket for seven. James swung and missed, but Nelson later caught him on the boundary off Dawkins for 28 runs. The series victory was confirmed when Matlala struck Nelson to Bennison.
