South Africa put justifiable faith in their three-man spin attack – including two leg-spinners – to beat England by 67 runs in the second U-19 Youth Test at Boland Park on Wednesday to share the series 1-1.
The two evenly matched sides now move on to the start of the five-match ODI series at the same venue next Wednesday.
David Bedingham was named Man of the Match for his second innings century that set up the platform from which South Africa could strike for victory while Ollie Stone, the England captain, who was a cut above every other bowler on display and took 17 wickets at minimal cost, was named Man of the Series.
England looked well set to win the match or at least get a draw when their first two wicket partnerships went well past the 50 mark but having to bat last on a crumbling pitch finally caught up with them and the trio of SA spinners took five wickets between them before their fastest bowler, Kagiso Rabada, delivered the final blows.
Ironically, England won the first match at Sahara Park Newlands after being 14/3 in a disastrous opening half-hour and South Africa did the same in the second match, being even worse off at 8/4.
