Harrison Ward helps England Under-19s to series win

Sussex Academy batsman, Harrison Ward was part of a crucial final innings partnership as England Under-19s produced a brilliant performance to win the second "Test" by four wickets at Emirates Riverside and clinch their series against South Africa.

The home side were bowled out for 133 in their first innings, trailing the Proteas by a sizable margin. However, the bowlers responded as Adam Finch led the way with four wickets, while Jack Plom and Sam Connors struck twice to dismiss the tourists for 90.

There was still work ahead for the batsmen to chase down 167 to win the contest. Early wickets put the pressure on the middle order, but contributions from Ward, Tom Banton, Jack Haynes, George Lavelle, and Jack Davies allowed England to seal the win to secure the Test series.

England resumed day three on 121-9, and Finch found the boundary on a couple of occasions. However, the innings was ended when Sam Connors was caught behind off the bowling of Gideon Peters, with the home side still 76 runs behind.

The Proteas made a solid start to their innings, taking their lead beyond 100 runs before Plom produced a brilliant over to bring the home side back into contention. First the Essex seamer produced a brilliant delivery to remove Joshua Richards' middle stump.

Louis van Schalk fell first ball courtesy of a suicidal run out as Plom had time to run to the stumps and whip the bails off at the keeper's end. The collapse continued as Wandile Makwetu edged behind to Davies to hand England their third wicket in three balls. The bowlers kept the pressure on the Proteas and Connors claimed his first strike when Jacob Miltz was caught behind.

South Africa lost their fifth wicket on the stroke of lunch when Sinethemba Qeshile attempted to sweep Ward, but missed the connection and was out lbw for 14. After lunch, Connors returned from the Lumley End and nipped one back off the seam to pin Jason Niemand, putting the pressure on the tail.

Finch came into the attack to remove Jade de Klerk, who was caught by Lavelle. His dismissal sparked a collapse in the innings as the Worcestershire bowler wrapped up the tail cheaply. Thando Ntini was the first to fall before Mondli Khumalo and Kgaudisa Molefe were out in within the space of four deliveries.

England's reply got off to the worst possible start in their chase of 167. Ntini clean bowled Ollie Robinson in the second over, while Ben Charlesworth followed his opening partner back to the pavilion for four as Gideon Peters produced a good delivery. Skipper Banton turned the momentum back in his side's favour, hitting 17 off a Peters' over before the tea break.

Banton continued to make progress, but was then out lbw attempting a reverse sweep off Molefe, ending a stand worth 61 with Haynes. Ntini returned for a second spell from the Lumley End and in his fifth over he removed Haynes, who was caught behind for 27. Lavelle upped the ante with five boundaries to try to put the pressure back on the tourists. However, his dismissal for 25 to Khumalo offered a South Africa hope of snatching the victory.

Ward and Davies held their composure to reach their fifty partnership off 126 balls, and although Ward fell to Peters, England were still able to close out the victory.

England Under-19s coach, Jon Lewis reflected on the match and the series win: “We showed a lot of character today, which goes to show how good these guys can be down the line. The South Africans put us under a lot of pressure today. I felt that we were a little bit sloppy with our execution with the bat and a little bit with the ball. Today we showed what we were all about as a side and more importantly as people. The guys showed a lot of character and I'm really proud of that.

"Even in the first innings we weren't as good as the scorecard suggested with the ball. For them to get 209 on the pitch in the conditions that were available were about 50 or 60 runs too many. We were outstanding today as a group of three fast bowlers, threatening all the time. To bowl a team out there was clinical, I was very pleased with the three fast bowlers.

"Jack Plom sparked it and the rest were able to jump on the back of it. I've seen already in my short term as England Under-19s head coach at this level the pressure can get to teams. The third innings the pressure got to our opposition and our guys really stamped their authority on the game. I thought that 167 was going to be a really tricky chase for us. On the pitch where there was some uneven bounce and some lateral movement for the fast bowlers, to chase down 167 and the way we did was a much more committed effort. There was only a couple of soft dismissals in there whereas in the previous day we had five, six, seven soft dismissals.

"The good thing about this game there was something on every ball. It was a real contest between bat and ball the whole day. When we were bowling and when we were batting every ball mattered. I think it's really important for these guys to understand how important every ball in a cricket match actually is. So we had some great learning from this game. They would have had some great learnings as individuals, but also as a team as well. We'll take a lot of confidence into the one-day series coming up.

"It was an important partnership between Tom Banton and Jack Haynes. Tom's been the standout batsman in terms of the series. He's looked a very fine young batsman. Haynes is a young guy coming in and that experience will stand him in good stead for the long term.

"I learned last week that we hadn't won a Test match since 2013 home or away. Now we've won two in a week, which is fantastic. All credit to the guys. They've played the better cricket over the course of the seven days we've played. They've thoroughly deserved their win."

Looking ahead to the ODI series that starts on Monday, Lewis added: "It's obviously a different format of cricket. I expect the South Africans to be more used to playing white-ball cricket. I think they play a lot more at home in terms of one-day cricket. They'll come back strong, they're a very proud sporting nation. They fly their flag in the dressing room. I expect them to come back fighting like they did in this match after losing the first one."