Nice to be at Scarborough again on Monday 9th July to see England Under 19s taking on South Africa Under 19s in the first of two four day test matches after which there will be three one day internationals. This was day two with England batting after bowling out the visitors for 232 on the first day.
Despite the enticing advert outside the ground announcing 'free cricket here today' only a very small number of spectators, the dedicated and the simply curious, had turned up to watch. This suited ourselves as we enjoy our cricket more in peace and quiet, but a shame really as without doubt some of the young cricketers on show will make it to their respective countries' test sides in years to come.
Two South Africans, Miltz and de Klerk, had made half centuries on day one and the England bowler who impressed most was Middlesex leg spinner Luke Hollman with splendid figures of 25-5-39-4.
Today the player who imposed himself on proceedings was the England captain Tom Banton from Somerset, despite having spent his schooldays going through the Warwickshire age group system.
A tall, powerfully built young man, he was soon well into his stride with very powerful drives particularly on the leg side. After the long period of drought and heatwave, it came as something of a surprise when light drizzle sent the players from the field for an hour before lunch.
However normal service was soon resumed and England who had lost one wicket overnight together with Charlesworth, Haynes, Robinson and Ward, soon took control thanks to Banton who rather dominated the afternoon session. This was due to some good support from wicket keeper Davies with 26 and Luke Hollman with 45. Banton was eventually seventh man out with the total on 240. His contribution had been a very confident innings of 137 which included no less than 23 fours and 2 sixes. Best bowler for South Africa was pace man Peters who took 4-76 and England were all out for 305, a lead of 73.
South Africa survived a testing eleven overs before the close of day two which ended with them on 24-0. An early 10.30 start to day three, possibly due to the lost hour yesterday or more likely in
anticipation of tonight's world cup football match. Things seemed to be going smoothly for the visitors at first until a run out disposed of Richards going for a third run. This was shortly followed by Miltz well caught in the gully by Gleadall off the Essex paceman Plomb, who also got rid of Qeshile caught at slip by Lavelle from Lancashire who was a substitute fielder. South Africa then 53-3 and in all sorts of trouble.
Khumolo, the opener who had retired hurt last night, returned but he was soon run out as well, as wickets continued to tumble. Du Plessis was caught behind by Davies off Derbyshire's Alf Gleadall and Makwetu caught at slip by Haynes when leg spinner Hollman returned to the attack. 81-6 at this stage and thoughts already turning to an early finish. There was some resistance from the lower middle order until Plomb returned to take two more wickets and finished with best figures of 4-56.
Yet again leg spinner Hollman proved very difficult to score off and he had another set of excellent figures this time with 22-9-30-2. South Africa very disappointingly all out for 161, leaving England an easy target of 89 to win. With opening batsman Banks of Warwickshire injured, England opened with Ollie Robinson from Kent along with Ben Charlesworth from Gloucester, who was a late call up to the squad after a century in a warm up match at Loughborough last week.
They both got on with it from the word go and finished proceedings very rapidly indeed. Robinson hit eight fours in his 34 before being the only wicket to fall, but Charlesworth was 41 not out at the end with seven fours in his innings. Banton improved his average slightly with just nine not out as England won in style by nine wickets. Hopefully the opposition will find a bit more inspiration before next week's second game at Riverside, Chester le Street, which I also hope to report on.
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