Kent’s Ben Dawkins struck a magnificent unbeaten century to lead England under-19s to an eight-wicket win over South Africa on Friday.
Dawkins finished 118 not out with 14 fours and three sixes as England won the second Youth One Day International at Northampton to level the three-match series at 1-1.
He shared an unbroken third-wicket stand of 191 in 174 balls with Lancashire’s Rocky Flintoff, who finished 79 not out.
Opener Dawkins said: “Firstly, credit to our bowlers to get them out for 227 on that wicket is a serious effort with the outfield because it’s rapid and it’s a good pitch.
“And then batting, credit to Rocky [Flintoff], he just helped me, and we managed to build a big partnership, which accelerated the game in our hands.
“Then for me personally, I think I’ve got a lot of 60s, and then I’ve got out, so to be able to push on, get a big 100, and I’m not out, it’s really pleasing for me.
“I think it was actually quite a tricky wicket to get in at first, because I also started quite slowly. Rocky started slowly, but then as you get in, it becomes easier and easier. The way Rocky hits the ball is unbelievable, so it’s great to watch from the other end.
“It’s a great team performance and makes the series interesting heading to Beckenham [for the decider on 6 July]. They’ve got a very strong team, powerful batters, and a very good bowling unit, so it’s very exciting.”
For South Africa, Muhammad Bulbulia made 41 and Vihan Pretorius 35, before the tourists slumped to 190-9 as impressive Leicestershire left-arm spinner Ali Farooq took 3-29.
Michael Kruiskamp counterpunched with 47 off 39 balls as South Africa were bowled out off 39.3 overs. James Minto and Ralphie Albert both picked up two wickets apiece.
Minto and Charlie Harmison removed Nkosana Sibiya and South African skipper Jason Rowles early in the South African innings.
Jorich van Schalkwyk hit two inventive punches over backward point off Manny Lumsden but was caught on the boundary attempting a third.
That brought Joshua van Biljon together with Bulbulia and the pair rebuilt in a positive partnership of 55 in almost 10 overs.
Albert broke the stand when van Biljon hit straight to long on, and then bowled Paul James when he chopped on, to leave South Africa in trouble at 127 for five.
Pretorius played with intent, smashing Albert straight for six. While Minto returned to pick up Bulbulia through a tame upper cut straight to short cover, Pretorious continued to attack, striking Minto for six over cover.
Farooq struck in the next over when he turned one away to draw the edge of Bandile Mbatha’s bat, keeper Harry Wallace taking a sharp catch. Farooq then bowled a double-wicket maiden, picking up Pretorious when a ball rolled off his pad onto his stumps, and JJ Basson who was caught behind.
Kruiskamp though swept Albert and Farooq for sixes and struck Farooq over extra cover before he was last man out.
Against a testing opening burst from South Africa’s quicks, England grew becalmed, managing just 14 off the first seven overs for the loss of Wallace who pushed Basson low to second slip.
Dawkins hit Majola through point, while Will Bennison pulled Bandile Mbatha for six. But just as England were starting to motor, Bennison was needlessly run out in a mix-up between the two batters.
Undeterred, Dawkins took two cover boundaries off Kruiskamp’s first over, crunched Mbatha through the covers and pulled over mid-wicket before moving to his half-century.
Flintoff went through the gears, pulling both Kruiskamp and Rowles for sixes and duly advanced to 50 via two further pull shots.
Dawkins moved into the 90s when he pulled for six over mid-wicket off Majola and played a similar shot off Rowles to reach his century, with victory arriving shortly after.
Report via ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay
