England lose Pro20 opener

Date: Thursday 22 January 2009

A superb cameo from Josh Cobb was not enough to help England post a big enough target as South Africa Under-19s took a 1-0 lead in the two-match Pro20 series at Newlands.

Opener Andrea Agathagelou and number three Rilee Rossouw added 53 in 5.1 overs to set up the hosts' six-wicket triumph in Cape Town.

Three wickets for eight runs gave England a sniff but their nemesis, Obus Pienaar, completed victory with five overs to spare.

Earlier, contributions from in-form England batsmen Sam Northeast and Cobb left South Africa chasing 133.

Opener Northeast posted 47 at better than a run a ball while Cobb produced a great knock of 26 off just 12 deliveries.

However, none of England's other players could reach double figures as the tourists had to settle for 132-7

South Africa captain Jonathan Vandiar bowled four tight overs in returning figures of 1-15, and Pienaar claimed 2-23.

Hamza Riazuddin, standing in as captain for Liam Dawson, lost the toss and Vandiar chose to field first as England looked to overcome the disappointment of losing the one-day series at the same venue on Monday.

Northeast helped England make a bright start; when his partner James Taylor was caught for four in the fifth over England had 25 on the board.

Cobb plundered four fours and a six before he was bowled by Dale Deeb, having added 48 with Northeast in only 4.4 overs.

However, the returning Jaik Mickleburgh succumbed to Pienaar's pace and Northeast was run out three short of a half-century. His innings occupied 46 balls and included four fours.

Scott Borthwick fell cheaply to Vandiar and Riazzudin became Pienaar`s second victim as England's middle order again failed to fire.

Wicketkeeper Tom Poynton was run out late on as Azeem Rafiq finished four not out and James Burke was unbeaten on three.

The hosts began their pursuit at a frightening pace, from which they hardly let up.

Agathagelou and Mangaliso Mosehle smashed the ball around, and when Burke bowled Mosehle in the fourth over South Africa already had 36 on the board. His 15 from 10 balls included three fours.

Rossouw picked up where Mosehle left off as the Proteas passed 50 in the fifth over, Agathagelou and Rossouw`s half-century partnership coming off just 26 balls.

Leg-spinner Borthwick was the first England bowler to stem the flow. He had Rossouw caught by Nathan Buck in the ninth over to leave South Africa 89 for two. His 29 spanned just 17 deliveries and contained four fours.

Off-spinner Rafiq gave England hope when he had Vandiar caught by Northeast for a fifth-ball duck and Agathagelou stumped to reduce South Africa to 97-4.

However, Temba Bavuma (14 not out) and Pienaar’s 21 from 12 balls completed an emphatic win. Borthwick emerged with 1-13 from his four overs while Rafiq claimed 2-28.

The second and final match takes place today in Paarl.

For a scorecard of the game, please click below: