Dawkins tons helps England U19s level ODI series

In the second Youth One Day International at the cinch County Ground, Northampton, Kent's Ben Dawkins scored a magnificent unbeaten 118, his first List A international hundred, to lead the England Under-19s to a comprehensive eight-wicket victory over South Africa. Dawkins and Rocky Flintoff of Lancashire shared a blistering partnership of 191 runs off 174 balls, which included 14 fours and three sixes. Flintoff started out as a supporting player, but he soon picked up speed and hit 79 as the hosts chased down 228 to win. Muhammad Bulbulia struck for South Africa with 41 runs and Vihan Pretorius with 35 before the visitors fell to 190 for 9 with the impressive Leicestershire left-arm spinner Ali Farooq going 3 for 29. Despite this, South Africa were bowled out in 39.3 overs after Michael Kruiskamp counterpunched with 47 off 39 balls. Ralphie Albert and James Minto each took two wickets. With one game remaining in the three-match series, England now holds a draw. Nkosana Sibiya and South African captain Jason Rowles were taken out early in the South African innings by Minto and Charlie Harmison. Jorich van Schalkwyk landed two creative punches over Manny Lumsden's backward point, but he was stopped when he tried to land a third. That brought Joshua van Biljon and Bulbulia together, and the two of them rebuilt into a winning partnership, scoring 55 runs in almost 10 overs. Albert bowled Paul James after van Biljon hit straight to long-on, breaking the stand and putting South Africa in danger at 127 for 5. Pretorius, on the other hand, played with purpose and smashed Albert for six straight. While Minto returned to pick up Bulbulia through a tame uppercut straight to short cover, Pretorious continued to attack, striking Minto for six over cover. However, in the subsequent over, Farooq struck when he turned one away to draw the edge of Bandile Mbatha's bat, forcing keeper Harry Wallace to make a sharp catch. After that, Farooq bowled a double-wicket maiden, picking up JJ Basson, who was caught behind, and Pretorius, who was run out when a ball rolled off his pad and onto his stumps. However, before he was the last man out, Kruiskamp struck Farooq over extra cover and swept Albert and Farooq for sixes. England lost Wallace, who pushed Basson low to second slip, in a challenging opening burst from South Africa's quicks, and managed just 14 off the first seven overs. Will Bennison pulled Bandile Mbatha for six, while Dawkins broke the deadlock by slamming Majola through the point. However, Bennison was unnecessarily run out due to a mix-up between the two batters just as England began to accelerate. Dawkins went on to score a half-century after crushing Mbatha through the covers and pulling over midwicket off Kruiskamp's first over unperturbed. Flintoff went through the motions, pulling Kruiskamp and Rowles over the West Stand for sixes, and with two more pull shots, he got to 50. When Dawkins pulled for six off Majola at midwicket and played a similar shot off Rowles to reach his century, he moved into the 90s. Soon after, he won the match.