Bad light curtails England Under-19s' fine start against South Africa

Worcestershire's Adam Finch and Essex's Jack Plom took two wickets apiece in bowler-friendly conditions, building on their impressive performances at Scarborough in the second "Test" against the Proteas

^{Adam Finch was among the wickets for England Under-19s on Monday}

Chester-le-Street (first day of four): South Africa Under-19s 118-5 vs England

England Under-19s enjoyed a strong start to the second "Test" of their series against South Africa on a rain-affected opening day at Emirates Riverside.

Worcestershire's Adam Finch and Essex's Jack Plom took two wickets apiece in bowler-friendly conditions, building on their impressive performances at Scarborough. Middlesex leg-spinner Luke Hollman picked up the other wicket to fall.

Sinethemba Qeshile top scored with 47 for the tourists, who finished the day on 118 for five as bad light brought a premature end to play.

The Proteas won the toss and elected to bat as England handed starts to Sam Connors and George Lavelle due to injuries to Liam Banks and Alfie Gleadall. The tourists brought Jason Niemand, Thando Ntini, Kgaudise Molefe and Louis van Schalkwyk into their side from the opener.

Joshua Richards was fortunate to escape an early delivery from Finch, edging through the slip cordon before the ball rolled to the boundary. However, Finch had his revenge when Richards edged to Lavelle at second slip three balls later. 

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Van Schalkwyk arrived at the crease at No.3 and had the same experience as Richards, edging through the slips to get off the mark before he fell for four being caught behind by Jack Davies off the bowling of Plom. 

Wandile Makwetu found the boundary and remained unbeaten with Jacob Miltz before the rain came. After a four-hour delay, the players returned to the pitch. Finch made a breakthrough in his second over after the restart as a rising delivery found the outside edge from Miltz as the seamer's Worcestershire team-mate Jack Haynes took the catch.

South Africa were in need of stability at the crease, Qeshile provided a response as he settled into his knock, offering a solid complement alongside his skipper Makwetu in difficult conditions against the moving ball. The duo were able to frustrate the England attack, bringing up their fifty partnership off 75 deliveries. 

Hollman was brought into the fold from the Lumley End. He produced a fine ball to break the partnership in his second over to remove Makwetu, pinning the Proteas' captain in front of his stumps lbw for 36. Qeshile continued his resistance, knocking his way towards fifty before a bad-light break brought play to a halt briefly.

Plom found his rhythm on his return and snagged the breakthrough of Qeshile, who was guilty of playing away from his body to lose his wicket for 47, edging behind to Davies. England were prevented from making further inroads on day one as bad lighted halted play for good.

Report courtesy of the ECB Reporters Network