Kent’s County Ground at Beckenham was the venue for the first Under 19 Test Match between England and South Africa.

Day One was a fine example of how cricket can ebb and flow as momentum changed several times during the three sessions. Kent were represented by Tunbridge Wells’ opening bat, Ben Dawkins, and he had his own mixed emotions. He took three fine catches at first slip. However, late in the evening he was adjudged to have edged behind and having been given out, had to walk off disconsolately.

After winning the toss, South Africa elected to bat first but lost their first wicket in the third over when Nkosana Sibiya lobbed James Minto in the air and picked out Manny Lumsden. Muhammad Bulbulia was joined by Jorich van Schalkwyk and they looked comfortable until the eighteenth over when the latter edged a Lumsden delivery to be caught by wicketkeeper Harry Wallace for 20.

Captain Jason Rowles then added some impetus to the innings and, by lunchtime, the score had advanced to 91 for 2, with Bulbulia on 33 and Rowles on 24.

If honours may have been considered as even in the morning session, the afternoon was bossed by the Proteas. Both batters completed their half centuries, and it appeared that they were going to go in at tea unbeaten until Rowles, on 66, tried to lift Ralphie Albert over the top. Unfortunately for him, he picked out Bradley Sylvester at long off to end their 143 run partnership.

Minto had Joshua van Biljon caught behind low down by Wallace and Vihan Pretorius joined Bulbulia. Neither looked in any trouble until Albert brought Ali Farooq back and the two left arm spinners started to strangle the innings. Four consecutive maidens created pressure that was only relieved with a desperate slash by Pretorius over Rocky Flintoff at slip.

Bulbulia then suffered the agony of falling two short of his century when trying to flick Albert behind square leg and picking out Jacob Blades on the forty-five. That opened the door and Farooq had Paul James, Michael Kruiskamp, and Ntando Soni all caught by Dawkins at slip.

England then took the new ball and Pretorius was bowled by Sylvester for an excellent 51, which included three sixes, then Bayanda Majola holed out to Blades off Minto with JJ Basson unbeaten. Bowling honours went to Farooq, 3 for 40, Minto 3 for 60, and Albert 2 for 105.

Although, the visitors would have been disappointed to have lost their last eight wickets for 110 to be bowled out for 295, it meant that England had an awkward last half an hour to negotiate and the lively Majola took advantage. First, he had Dawkins caught behind by van Biljon for five before he clipped Blades’ off stump to end the day’s play with England on 14 for 2.