England Lions hammered again by South Africa A

Lhuan-dre Pretorius and Nqobani Mokoena starred for the visitors as they cruised to a series-winning 10-wicket victory at New Road

ECB Reporters Network | 07/06/2026 at 17:20

New Road: England Lions 198, South Africa A 201 - South Africa A win by 10 wickets

South Africa A continued their domination of England Lions as they cruised to a 10-wicket victory at New Road in the second instalment of their three-game 50-over series.

No Lions batter reached 50 as they were bowled out for 198 in 47.1 overs. After another top-order implosion, No.6 Caleb Falconer hit 45 from 57 balls to lead some lower-order resistance against an impressive attack led by Nqobani Mokoena (4 for 40).

South Africa A then galloped to 201 without loss with a whopping 117 balls to spare thanks to openers Lhuan-dre Pretorius (116 not out) and Rubin Hermann (83 not out). The drubbing left the tourists with a decisive 2-0 lead in the three-match series, which concludes back at New Road on Tuesday.

South Africa A chose to bowl on an overcast morning, and Mokoena took out three of the Lions' top four in an aggressive opening burst. Opening pair Ben Dawkins and Asa Tribe were undone by superb away-cutters, which took the edge. James Coles fell second ball when he was too late leaving one and deflected it on the stumps. And it was 38 for 4 when captain Jordan Cox gloved a pull at Kwena Maphaka.

Falconer underpinned a partial recovery with stands of 48 in 12 overs with Ben Mayes (26) and 55 with Ekansh Singh (27). The South Africa A attack nipped the revival in the bud, however, as Mayes lifted spinner Prenelan Subrayen to long on and Falconer and Singh fell lbw in successive overs from slow left-armer Bjorn Fortuin.

Mason Crane (22) and Matthew Potts (25) added a patient 34 from 10 overs to prolong the innings, but it was too little too late. Crane and Eddie Jack fell to successive balls from Nqabayonzi Peter, and Potts edged a slog at Mokoena to the wicketkeeper.

Potts then bowled a testing opening spell but, under no pressure to score quickly, Pretorius and Hermann eased to 50 in the 13th over. They were content to ease onward until the introduction of spin when Pretorius lifted Coles for six and four in his first over.

Pretorius reached his half-century from 65 balls and Hermann, having had much less of the strike, followed to his from 49. The 150 stand was posted in the 25th over after Pretorius freed up to climb into Crane with three successive sixes before accelerating to a 103-ball ton with seven fours and seven sixes. Victories do not come much more emphatic.